Acting Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok: "Please Abandon the Terms and Attitudes of 'Manager' or 'Executive'"

Lee Won-seok, Acting Prosecutor General (Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office). / Photo by Jin-hyeong Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Acting Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok (Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office) urged prosecutors promoted to the rank of administrative officer to abandon the terms and attitudes of being managers or executives.

On the 18th, Deputy Prosecutor General Lee emphasized the task of "restoring public trust" facing the prosecution during his welcoming speech for the 'Promotion of Prosecutorial Administrative Officers and Transfer Personnel to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.'

Deputy Prosecutor General Lee began by saying, "Having entered the prosecution for over 20 years, and in some cases more than 30 years, you have faithfully served the public. I congratulate and welcome you who have been promoted to administrative officers and transferred to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office."

He continued, "After becoming an administrative officer, you are often called 'middle managers' or 'middle executives.' You might think that you will now stop hands-on work and serve as managers and executives who direct and supervise juniors."

He added, "The prosecution faces the task of 'restoring public trust.' The only way to achieve this is to return to the original intention and basics, so I ask you to recall your first day at the prosecution."

Deputy Prosecutor General Lee emphasized, "Let's abandon the term and attitude of 'manager.' Prosecution work is not about who manages or supervises whom. All 10,000 members of the prosecution must find their own work, take initiative, not delay, and act responsibly."

He also said, "Let's abandon the term and attitude of 'executive (幹部).' There can be no separate 'trunk (幹)' and branches among prosecution members. We are all the roots, the trunk, and together we are the flowers and fruits that enjoy fulfillment."

Deputy Prosecutor General Lee reiterated, "The moment a surgeon puts down the scalpel, or a Chinese chef puts down the heavy wok, they can no longer be considered professionals in their field. Merely reviewing and supplementing documents prepared by juniors without actively engaging in the field with body and mind cannot be called professional."

He added, "Holding the pen and typing, encouraging juniors, communicating and finding solutions through discussions with superiors?this very role makes you professionals and is the only way to earn the public's trust."

Finally, Deputy Prosecutor General Lee concluded his welcoming speech by saying, "In difficult times, let us return to our original intention and basics, focus solely on the people, and do our best to protect the fundamental rights of the public. Please engrave in your hearts that this is the reason for the prosecution's existence and its mission, and let us work together."

The Ministry of Justice carried out promotions and transfers effective on the 18th for about 100 prosecutors of grade 5 and above on the 13th.

With this personnel move, one investigator of grade 5 or above was added to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Information Management Division, and additional personnel reinforcements are expected in the investigator personnel moves for grade 6 and below next week.

Previously, former Ministers of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Park Beom-gye reduced the investigative information organization of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, but Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon has announced the revival of the Investigation Information Policy Office.

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