Park Beom-gye: "I Have Never Considered Including Im Eun-jeong in the Joint Inspection Target"

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye is arriving at the Ministry of Justice Gwacheon Government Complex on the morning of the 29th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye stated that he has never considered whether to include Im Eun-jung, Chief Prosecutor of the Inspection Policy Research Office at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, in the joint inspection by the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office regarding the 'allegations of witness tampering instruction by the investigation team of former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook.'

On the 29th, while arriving at the Ministry of Justice Gwacheon Government Complex, Minister Park responded to reporters' questions about the possibility of including Chief Prosecutor Im in the joint inspection by saying, "I have never thought about that." Chief Prosecutor Im is currently under investigation for allegedly leaking official secrets after posting related content on her Facebook about the suspicion that the investigation team of former Prime Minister Han instructed inmates to commit perjury, and she has been reported by civic groups.

Regarding concerns that Chief Prosecutor Im's participation in the joint inspection might be problematic, Minister Park said, "Im is not conducting the inspection alone," adding, "The Ministry of Justice Inspection Office and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department are conducting it jointly, and if there is a conflict of interest, a working-level consultation is scheduled today, so I think it will be naturally discussed there."

On the same day, the Ministry of Justice Inspection Office and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department will hold their first joint working-level meeting at the Ministry of Justice Gwacheon Government Complex to discuss the principles and direction of the joint inspection by the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. It is known that Park Eun-jung, Inspection Officer at the Ministry of Justice, and two prosecutors will attend from the Ministry of Justice, while Heo Jeong-su, Head of Inspection Division 3, and Chief Prosecutor Im will attend from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Regarding this, Minister Park emphasized, "The purpose is not to punish or discipline anyone, but to improve organizational culture and correct investigative practices, so I ask that it be conducted objectively while maintaining confidentiality," and added, "Some media outlets are linking this case to the former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook case, but that itself is not the purpose."

Meanwhile, on the guidelines for separate investigations announced by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, he said, "It is a significant advancement," and added, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office should proceed according to its own program with conviction. The Ministry of Justice should cover areas that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office does not."

Earlier, on the 24th, Acting Prosecutor General Cho Nam-gwan announced measures to improve the practice of direct investigations by the prosecution, including guidelines to restrict separate investigations and separate investigative departments for separate crimes.

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