Minister of Justice and Deputy Chief Prosecutor Deliver Mixed Messages on 'Geomsu Wanbak' at New Prosecutors' Commissioning Ceremony

On the 2nd, Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, is taking a commemorative photo with newly appointed prosecutors at the Ministry of Justice Government Gwacheon Complex.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The Minister of Justice and the heads of the prosecution emphasized different messages to newly appointed prosecutors amid the controversy over 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecutorial investigative authority).

On the afternoon of the 2nd, Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye attended the commissioning ceremony for new prosecutors held at the Government Complex Gwacheon. The newly appointed prosecutors were 67 individuals who passed the 11th bar exam. After completing about nine months of training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, they are scheduled to be assigned to frontline prosecution offices.

Minister Park urged, "Prosecutors must not forget that the various legal duties entrusted to them are delegated by the sovereign people." He stated, "It is the professional calling of prosecutors to serve the people by sacrificing their own interests," and added, "to properly fulfill the authority and responsibilities entrusted by the people, prosecutors must always consider what direction the people desire." He also said, "Our prosecutorial power must be exercised not as a solitary justice, but in a way that the people empathize with and accept."

Minister Park further said, "The essence is the fairness of investigations. Investigations that legally involve human rights infringements must undergo internal and external controls to be justified."

On the other hand, Deputy Prosecutor General Park Seong-jin said at the reporting ceremony, "In the past month, legislation has been pushed that shakes the foundation of the criminal justice system and denies the prosecutorial system established by the Constitution," adding, "Those of you just starting your careers as prosecutors must be feeling very troubled and confused."

Currently, Deputy Prosecutor General Park is acting as the Prosecutor General following the resignation of Kim Oh-soo. He emphasized the constitutional authority of prosecutors and pointed out the problems with the 'Geomsu Wanbak' bill.

Deputy Prosecutor General Park stressed, "Prosecutors, as representatives of the public interest, are responsible for investigation, prosecution, and maintenance of public prosecution. Especially, since investigations are activities to decide whether to prosecute and maintain prosecution, by their nature, they cannot be separated or disconnected from prosecution." He added, "There are attempts to obscure or mislead this essence, but I hope you understand this point clearly first."

Deputy Prosecutor General Park said, "Our Constitution grants prosecutors the exclusive authority to request warrants to supervise human rights violations during investigations. You are investigative agencies explicitly specified by the Constitution," and emphasized, "To protect democracy and the rule of law, you must remember to overcome not only interference or obstruction in investigations and trials of individual cases but also threats to the system itself."

He also stated, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office will actively express opinions on the unconstitutionality of the bill in the remaining procedures and proceed with necessary legal measures," adding, "Although you new prosecutors are commissioned during difficult times, let us unite our will and overcome this adversity."

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