Former Prosecutor Kim Jong-min Lawyer: "Abolishing the Chief Prosecutor Rank Is a Scheme to Control the Prosecution More Strongly"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Attorney Kim Jong-min, former head of the Suncheon branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, strongly criticized the Ministry of Justice's Prosecutor Personnel Committee's decision to effectively abolish the ranks of High Prosecutors' Office Chief Prosecutor (Gogeomjang) and Chief Prosecutor (Geomsa-jang).

On the 28th, Attorney Kim posted on his social media (SNS) Facebook account, "Yesterday, the Ministry of Justice Prosecutor Personnel Committee decided to effectively abolish the ranks, grouping the High Prosecutors' Office Chief Prosecutor and Chief Prosecutor into the same personnel category for appointments," adding, "The stated reason is 'flexible personnel management of Chief Prosecutor-level positions,' but it is a political ploy by the administration to tighten its grip on the prosecution using personnel authority as a weapon."

Earlier, the Prosecutor Personnel Committee held a meeting at the Government Complex Gwacheon the previous day to discuss standards for high-ranking prosecutor personnel appointments following the inauguration of the new Prosecutor General.

In particular, the committee revealed that it considered a plan to flexibly manage personnel at the Chief Prosecutor level or above within positions to resolve the backlog of seniority among prosecutors. Although specific measures were not disclosed, there is speculation within the prosecution that High Prosecutors' Office Chief Prosecutors might be assigned to positions such as research committee members at the Judicial Research and Training Institute or deputy chief prosecutors at the High Prosecutors' Office, which are Chief Prosecutor-level posts.

In fact, if personnel appointments proceed in this manner, some High Prosecutors' Office Chief Prosecutors assigned to Chief Prosecutor-level positions might be forced to resign. It is believed that the Ministry of Justice introduced the 'flexible personnel' card with this intention. Due to this, strong opposition is reportedly brewing within the prosecution.

Attorney Kim stated, "During the Prosecutor Reform Committee at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office under Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il, the abolition of the Chief Prosecutor rank was discussed in depth," adding, "The conclusion was to abolish the deputy minister-level treatment but not the Chief Prosecutor rank. This was due to concerns about the administration's control over the prosecution through reverse personnel appointments under a system where the president holds personnel authority."

He continued, "If the Chief Prosecutor rank is abolished, in the extreme case, High Prosecutors' Office Chief Prosecutors or Chief Prosecutors could be reassigned to regular prosecutor positions and effectively dismissed," lamenting that "the concerns of the Prosecutor Reform Committee have become a reality" with this Personnel Committee decision.

Attorney Kim also questioned, "If the administration controls prosecutor personnel in this way, who would dare to investigate administration corruption?" He pointed out, "Prosecutors investigating administration corruption and Chief Prosecutors will be immediately out. This is a method that even military dictatorship regimes in the past dared not attempt."

He urged Chief Prosecutors, "No matter what disadvantages come, resist collectively and endure," and insisted, "The opposition party must immediately propose amendments to the Prosecutors' Office Act to prevent the administration from ever doing such things again. This is not a matter to just watch idly."

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