Ministry of Justice: "'Kim Hak-ui Departure Investigation' Can Be Handled Internally Without Extending Prosecutor Dispatch"

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye./Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Ministry of Justice stated on the 13th that the investigation into the travel ban case involving former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui can be conducted with internal personnel from the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, explaining its decision not to approve the extension of the prosecutor dispatch to the investigation team.

The Ministry of Justice said, "Since the investigation has progressed significantly over two months to the extent that an arrest warrant could be requested, and considering the reinforcement of personnel within the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, it was judged that the investigation could continue internally."

Previously, the Ministry of Justice did not approve the extension of the dispatch of Chief Prosecutor Im Se-jin and ordered Prosecutor Kim, a regular prosecutor on the same investigation team, to return to the Busan District Prosecutors' Office. Prosecutor Kim, originally assigned to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, was transferred to the Busan District Prosecutors' Office in February but remained at Suwon on a dispatch basis to continue the investigation.

The Ministry of Justice initially stated that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office unilaterally decided on the dispatch of Chief Prosecutor Im and Prosecutor Kim without consulting the Ministry of Justice. While the Supreme Prosecutors' Office can decide on prosecutor dispatches independently, approval from the Minister of Justice is required if the period exceeds one month.

The Ministry of Justice explained, "When a prosecutor dispatch is necessary, the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office have consulted, but the Supreme Prosecutors' Office decided on January 15 to dispatch Chief Prosecutor Im for one month without consulting the Ministry of Justice. Subsequently, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office applied for an extension, which was approved for one additional month."

It added, "In Prosecutor Kim's case, although the Ministry of Justice did not agree to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's dispatch request, the Prosecutor General enforced a one-month dispatch. Therefore, the Ministry of Justice informed that the extension of the dispatch was difficult and that Prosecutor Kim must return to the Busan District Prosecutors' Office as of March 1."

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