Choo Mi-ae Issues Official Letter to Prosecutors Nationwide Urging 'Refrain from Dining Out'... "Eat Lunchboxes"

Prosecutors' Staff Say "Absurd"... Cold Reactions

On the morning of the 23rd, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is heading to the Ministry of Justice at the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae has sparked controversy by sending an official letter to prosecution offices nationwide, prohibiting the use of external restaurants due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and establishing the principle of eating alone using lunch boxes or delivery.

According to the legal community on the 24th, the Ministry of Justice sent an official letter related to COVID-19 prevention guidelines to prosecution offices nationwide, including the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, on the 22nd.

The letter contained instructions to all prosecution office staff, including prosecutors and investigators, to completely ban gatherings such as dinners or official meetings, and to in principle prohibit visits to external restaurants during lunch or dinner.

Instead, the letter also included the principle of eating alone at one's personal seat using lunch boxes or delivery.

The letter was accompanied by Minister Chu's approval file as an attachment.

Following this directive from Minister Chu, Lee Sung-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, reportedly created and distributed to each prosecutor's office a "Map of Lunch Box Delivery Vendors Near the Prosecutors' Office" indicating the locations of lunch box delivery businesses around the prosecution building, along with a "Plan to Promote Lunch Box Orders" containing vendor contact information.

Regarding this measure, staff at prosecution offices on the front lines have expressed reactions of "absurdity." While they understand the request to refrain from gatherings due to the serious COVID-19 situation, they are dissatisfied with the excessive control over dining methods, such as being told to "eat lunch boxes alone."

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