Daegum Submits Opinion Letter on Organizational Restructuring Plan to Ministry of Justice

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has collected internal opinions on the prosecution reorganization plan and submitted them to the Ministry of Justice.

According to the legal community on the 31st, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office submitted opinions related to the prosecution reorganization plan, received from internal departments and local prosecutors' offices nationwide, to the Ministry of Justice.

The opinion letter reportedly expressed concerns that the reorganization could allow the Minister of Justice to control investigations into power-related cases and that the reduction of the Criminal Division's direct investigation functions could weaken investigative capabilities.

The reorganization plan includes a provision that, except for the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, frontline prosecutors' offices will investigate the six major serious crimes only through the Criminal Division, and local branch offices must obtain approval from the Prosecutor General to investigate related crimes.

However, within the prosecution, there were criticisms that the Ministry of Justice intends to directly control investigations into power-related cases and reduce the prosecution's investigative functions. It was also analyzed that if direct investigations are restricted to specific departments according to the reorganization plan, only prosecutors selected by the Minister will be responsible for direct investigations.

Meanwhile, Kim Oh-soo, the nominee for Prosecutor General, mentioned at the recent National Assembly confirmation hearing that he would "review the report, examine the contents, and actively express opinions" regarding the reorganization plan.

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