Handonghun: "No Monopoly in Prosecutor Personnel Appointments in Specific Fields"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] On the 10th, Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, visited a prison and a detention center for foreigners in Cheongju, Chungbuk. This was his first on-site communication event since taking office.

That morning, Minister Han visited Cheongju Prison and toured the correctional facility. After encouraging the staff and listening to their opinions, he visited the Cheongju Detention Center for Foreigners in the afternoon.

Recently, Minister Han has actively presented specific policies to improve the treatment of correctional officers and has been taking steps to enhance correctional services.

Minister Han stated, "The Ministry of Justice tends to be absorbed in prosecution issues, often postponing important matters. Correctional issues are a priority to be resolved, so I visited here first."

He added, "Recently, there has been a significant increase in cases where some inmates in correctional facilities assault public officials or fellow inmates or cause private harm," and "It is necessary to improve the treatment of correctional officers as well as maintain order in the detention facilities." "Improving the treatment of correctional public officials is not for their welfare but to effectively guarantee the human rights of inmates and serve the public interest."

He also explained that Cheongju Prison is an aging facility built 43 years ago, with an occupancy rate reaching 123%, and said he would seek solutions.

Regarding questions from reporters about whether the reorganization of the prosecution organization might overturn the so-called 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecution's investigative authority) legislation's intent, he said, "I do not think so."

Minister Han explained, "The legislative intent is to enable the prosecution to do their job properly, and it is the Minister of Justice's duty to create administrative regulations such as presidential decrees and Ministry of Justice ordinances to support this."

In response to criticism that prosecution personnel appointments are biased toward special investigation units, he said, "Ability and fairness are the standards," and added, "No specific specialized field will monopolize other fields."

When asked if the timing of the regular prosecution personnel appointments would take place after the organizational restructuring, he replied, "That is the normal order."

Regarding the application for suspension of execution of sentence for former President Lee Myung-bak, he said, "I have been informed, but the procedure is decided through a committee in the prosecution, so it is not a matter I am involved in."

On the expectation that the first verification target of the Ministry of Justice Personnel Information Management Group, launched on the 7th, will be the next Commissioner of the National Police Agency, he added, "Due to the nature of verification work, it is not appropriate to say who or what the target is. The Ministry of Justice's duty is to conduct practical verification work based on requests or referrals from the personnel authority."

Minister Han also said about the composition of the Prosecutor General Candidate Recommendation Committee, "Looking at past precedents, it is common for a considerable period to pass from the vacancy of the Prosecutor General to the formation of the recommendation committee."

Regarding the first trial fine imposed on former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Director Yoo Si-min the previous day, he said, "I have nothing to add as a minister," and "I understand that a guilty verdict was given yesterday," refraining from further comment.

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