Kim Osu: "One Judge-One Prosecutor System Aims to Alleviate Trial Workload"

Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo is attending 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 Kang Nahum] Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo stated that the 'one trial division, one prosecutor system' being promoted by the prosecution is "to alleviate the burden of trial work."

On the 29th, during his second regional prosecution office tour since taking office, visiting Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office and District Prosecutors' Office, Kim said, "The one trial division, one prosecutor system is to alleviate the increasing burden of trial work due to the limited evidentiary power of suspect interrogation records prepared by prosecutors," and added, "It is not intended to restrict the involvement of investigating prosecutors in trials."

He emphasized, "Of course, if necessary, the investigating prosecutor can also be involved in the trial, but there are times when it places a burden on the frontline, and fundamentally, I believe that sufficient support and consideration should be given to properly maintaining the prosecution," and added, "There are cases where direct involvement places a burden on the frontline, so we are considering reasonable measures."

Earlier, Lee Bok-hyun, head of the Criminal Division 2 at Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, and Kang Baek-shin, head of the Trial Division at Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, posted messages on the prosecution's internal network on the 15th and the day before, respectively, criticizing Prosecutor General Kim for restricting 'direct involvement,' where the investigating prosecutor directly maintains the prosecution in court.

Regarding safety measures at the Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office following a stabbing incident at the building, Kim said, "We have convened a nationwide security chiefs meeting to review fundamental countermeasures."

When asked by reporters whether a current prosecutor was involved in Hwacheon Daeyu, the asset management company suspected of preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong development project, Kim did not respond.

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