Park Beom-gye, on Prosecutor's Office Restructuring Backlash: "Quite Strong... There Are Differences in Opinion"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] On the 8th, Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, commented on the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's public opposition to the prosecution's organizational reform plan, saying, "It seems there is a difference in legal interpretation."

After concluding the Cabinet meeting that day and returning to the Ministry of Justice building, Minister Park told reporters that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's response was "quite strong" and made the remark accordingly.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office formally rejected the Ministry of Justice's organizational reform plan, which restricts direct investigations by the criminal divisions of district and branch prosecutors' offices, stating it is difficult to accept.

In particular, the provision requiring branch offices to obtain the Minister's approval before conducting direct investigations was criticized as "seriously undermining the political neutrality and independence of the prosecution."

Minister Park responded by saying, "That is something (the prosecution) can say." When asked about the possibility of meeting again with Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo over the prosecution's organizational reform issue, he replied, "We will have to see (the situation)."

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