Kim Oh-soo's Leadership Faces Test at 100 Days Since Inauguration as President

Suspicion of Reported Instigation Draws Prosecutors' Attention
Political Circles Demand Swift Investigation
Criticism Expected if No Meaningful Results Emerge

Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo is answering questions from the press after the launch ceremony of the Financial and Securities Crime Investigation Cooperation Group held at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the 1st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] It has been 100 days since Prosecutor General Kim Osu took office. His shoulders feel even heavier than during the previous 99 days. With the emergence of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol’s ‘reporting manipulation’ allegations, all attention is focused on the prosecution. As interest in the prosecution’s fact-finding investigation results grows, Kim’s leadership is also put to the test.

On this day at 11 a.m., Kim visited the Legal Research and Training Institute in Jincheon, Chungbuk, attended enhanced training for newly appointed chief prosecutors, then returned to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office to preside over an executive meeting at 4 p.m. He is likely to receive a report on the progress of the fact-finding investigation into the ‘reporting manipulation’ allegations being conducted by the Inspection Division 3 at this meeting. This is a critical juncture that will determine whether the investigation will shift to inspection or formal prosecution. Kim holds the decisive power.

The situation inside and outside the prosecution is rapidly evolving. The whistleblower who first brought the allegations to the media has switched to a public interest reporter status, allowing authorities to secure his mobile phone and other materials submitted to related agencies, and digital forensic work has begun. Outside the prosecution, the political sphere is demanding swift fact-finding investigations. Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye has stated that joint inspections with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and a transition to formal investigation are being considered, and the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Agency (Gongsa-cheo) is reportedly preparing to intensify investigations into former Prosecutor General Yoon after reviewing the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s findings.

If meaningful investigation results are not produced, criticism will be directed at Kim. Since his inauguration on June 1, he has maintained a quiet approach compared to his predecessors and has not stood out much. However, his response to the allegations against former Prosecutor General Yoon was different. On the afternoon of June 2, when the allegations first surfaced, he immediately ordered a fact-finding investigation by the Inspection Division. This appears to reflect consideration of the potential impact of these allegations ahead of the presidential election and the significant damage to the prosecution’s political neutrality if proven true.

However, there is much skepticism about whether Kim can properly clarify these allegations. Since taking office, Kim has shown a passive stance on cases involving the current administration, failing to dispel concerns about political bias. The fact that no results have been produced even after four months of investigation into the leak of the indictment by Seoul High Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon also contributed to this perception.

Han Dong-su, head of the Inspection Division leading the fact-finding investigation, is also classified as pro-government. On June 6, Jeong Hee-do, chief prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office, posted a letter titled “A Letter to the Prosecutor General” on the prosecution’s internal network iProS, questioning, “Can Han, who is evaluated by many as pro-government, fairly and truthfully uncover the facts?” and requested that Han be excluded from the investigation. Han’s term ends on July 18, but he is effectively being retained by being assigned to the investigation of the reporting manipulation allegations. Kim entrusted him with the first phase of the investigation. The uncomfortable view of Han within the prosecution is undoubtedly a hurdle that Kim must overcome.

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