Park Beom-gye, Han Myeong-sook Joint Inspection Results on Perjury Announcement... Prosecution Investigation Practice Improvement Plan Revealed

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, will announce the results of the joint inspection conducted by the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office regarding the allegations of witness tampering in the case involving former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook. Since he ordered a high-intensity joint inspection in March, it has been four months, showing his determination to correct inappropriate investigative practices by the prosecution, so a strong improvement plan is expected.

On the 14th, Minister Park will announce the joint inspection results at the Ministry of Justice's large conference room in the Government Complex Gwacheon. Key officials including Ryu Hyuk, Inspector General of the Ministry of Justice, and Im Eun-jung, Inspection Officer, will also be present, and the briefing will be broadcast live on the Ministry of Justice's YouTube channel.

This joint inspection began with suspicions that there was perjury in the trial of former Prime Minister Han, who was convicted of violating the Political Funds Act, and that the prosecution investigation team at the time had coached the perjury. The core issue reported was that the prosecution pressured former Hanshin Construction CEO Han Man-ho and others to give testimony that they had bribed Han Myeong-sook in an excessive investigation.

However, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office concluded that there was no evidence and no charges against the parties involved. In response, Minister Park exercised his authority to direct the investigation five days before the statute of limitations expired, but the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's chiefs' meeting again decided not to prosecute. Minister Park pointed out that the investigation team prosecutors were called to the chiefs' meeting without prior consultation, and that the meeting's proceedings and results were leaked externally, and thus ordered the joint inspection.

The four-month joint inspection was led by the Ministry of Justice's Inspection Office. Starting with the first joint meeting at the end of March, Minister Park received the first report on April 20, and the joint meetings were held every two weeks.

In addition to the former Prime Minister Han's case, the announcement will include the overall review results of investigative practices from intelligence gathering in direct investigations, preliminary investigations, investigations, prosecution filing, disclosure of suspect facts due to media publicity, to perjury at the trial stage. It is expected to include improvement measures for each stage and present criteria for success and failure in direct investigations.

Meanwhile, Minister Park has repeatedly expressed his determination, saying, "The inspection will not end vaguely or half-heartedly," and "We will reveal various problems inherent in so-called direct prosecution investigations and improve the system for prosecutorial reform."

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