Fourth On-Site Communication This Month... All Eyes on Prosecutor General Yoon's Words

Possibility of Mentioning Messages on Ministry of Justice Inspections Beyond Prosecution Reform... Additional Meetings Planned with Field Prosecutors

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is once again reaching out to frontline prosecutors. He may deliver messages regarding not only prosecutorial reform but also the Ministry of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's strong will to push forward with inspections. This will be the fourth meeting with frontline prosecutors this month alone, which is interpreted as an effort to strengthen internal unity against external pressure.

According to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 23rd, Prosecutor General Yoon will hold a luncheon meeting at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office at 12 PM on the same day regarding the 'trial-centered investigation structure.' This is the second consecutive week of meetings with field prosecutors following last week's meeting on protecting socially vulnerable groups.

The 'trial-centered investigation structure' is one of the prosecutorial reform directions that Prosecutor General Yoon has consistently emphasized. He repeatedly mentioned this topic at the new prosecutors' induction ceremony and the new deputy prosecutors' lectures. In August, he urged new prosecutors, "Investigations must be remembered as the preparation process for prosecution and trial. The office's work system should also center on trials." In the subsequent lecture for new deputy prosecutors, he emphasized the trial-centered investigation structure, stating, "A fair prosecution guarantees fair opportunities between parties in the criminal justice process."

He also emphasized this at the first meeting of the human rights-centered investigation task force (TF) in June. Prosecutor General Yoon stated, "The prosecution must make a major shift to a trial-centered approach that reaches the substantive truth through questioning between prosecutors and defense attorneys in court, rather than focusing solely on summons investigations." He added, "We must boldly change the paradigm of compulsory investigations."

The reason why prosecutors in charge of investigation structure reform from frontline prosecution offices, as well as prosecutors belonging to the human rights-centered investigation TF, are expected to attend this luncheon meeting is due to this emphasis. Moreover, the human rights-centered investigation TF has been co-led by the head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Trial and Prosecution Department.

Some interpret this as Prosecutor General Yoon's move to solidify internal unity in response to external pressures. In fact, Yoon has communicated with field prosecutors weekly this month. Starting with strengthening leadership among chief prosecutors at the Jincheon Judicial Research and Training Institute on the 3rd, followed by deputy prosecutors' leadership on the 9th, and a meeting on protecting socially vulnerable groups on the 17th. Furthermore, Yoon plans to hold two more meetings with prosecutors in charge of investigations involving socially vulnerable groups.

However, due to the recent intensified will of Minister Choo to push forward with face-to-face inspections by the Ministry of Justice, there is also a possibility that Prosecutor General Yoon will deliver messages related to this. On the 19th, the Ministry of Justice attempted to conduct a face-to-face inspection of Prosecutor General Yoon but did not proceed with the investigation citing "non-cooperation from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office." Nevertheless, they announced plans to continue the procedure, and there are forecasts that they will attempt to coordinate a second face-to-face investigation schedule starting early this week. The Ministry of Justice maintains its official stance that "there can be no sanctuary from inspections regardless of rank or status."

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