Prosecutors Predict Rejection of Revised Organizational Reform Plan... Response Expected This Afternoon

Expressing an Unacceptable Position to Be Delivered to the Ministry of Justice
Choo Mi-ae Returns from Leave... No Special Remarks

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is attending the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has decided to convey its stance of 'unacceptable' regarding the Ministry of Justice's draft and revised proposals for the prosecution system reorganization to the Ministry of Justice on the afternoon of the 18th. It is known that the opinion letter will include statements such as "insufficient time was given for discussion" and "it does not align with practical work."

A representative from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said in a phone call that "it is difficult to disclose the specific contents of the opinion letter," but added, "it is expected to not deviate significantly from the previous opinion letter." On the 13th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office had already responded with a stance of non-acceptance to the draft reorganization plan sent by the Ministry of Justice. The opinion letter at that time reportedly included statements such as "the Ministry of Justice did not conduct sufficient prior consultations" and "trial and error during the investigation process could lead to infringement of citizens' rights." However, the Ministry of Justice sent a revised reorganization plan with some modifications to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety the next day and requested the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to submit opinions on the revised plan by the 18th. Considering the weekend (15th-16th) and the temporary holiday (17th), this effectively gave only one day of leeway, which led to dissatisfaction within the prosecution, with some saying "the Ministry of Justice had no intention of listening to the prosecution's opinions from the start."

The Ministry of Justice plans to finalize the reorganization plan after reviewing the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's opinions submitted on the day. However, it is expected that the final plan will not significantly reflect the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's opinions. This is because the reorganization plan is being pushed forward in conjunction with the Police-Prosecution Investigation Authority Reform Act scheduled to take effect on January 1 next year, and it serves as a follow-up to the reorganization plan for frontline offices implemented in January. Both the Police-Prosecution Investigation Authority Reform Act and the previous reorganization plan focus mainly on reducing direct investigations. This reorganization plan also includes abolishing positions at the level of deputy chief prosecutors in the Anti-Corruption & Violence Department and the Public Investigation Department, which are direct investigation units, and expanding the Criminal Department and the Trial Department. The revised plan adds the establishment of a Human Rights Policy Officer instead of installing a Human Rights Supervisor as in the draft, with a Human Rights Supervision Officer and a Gender Equality Policy Officer under its jurisdiction. Additionally, the initial plan to add three criminal divisions was adjusted to increase only two.

The Ministry of Justice did not submit the reorganization plan to the Cabinet meeting held on the day due to remaining schedules such as consultations with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. However, the plan is to pass it at the Cabinet meeting on the 25th after deliberation at the Vice Ministerial Meeting on the 20th once consultations with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety are completed. Meanwhile, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, who is leading the prosecution system reorganization, has remained silent on this matter. Minister Choo, who took leave from the 13th to the 17th, posted about the resurgence of COVID-19 on Facebook until the morning of the day but refrained from mentioning the prosecution system reorganization, which is the most critical current issue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.