Kim O-su Meeting with President Moon: "Detailed Explanation of Various Issues in the Complete Prosecution Reform Bill"

Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo is entering the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 18th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Regarding the 'Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights (Geomsu Wanbak)' bill proposed by the Democratic Party of Korea, Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo, who had a meeting with President Moon Jae-in, stated that he "explained in detail the various issues of the Geomsu Wanbak bill."

On the 18th, after meeting with President Moon, Kim told reporters on his way back to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, "On behalf of the prosecution members, I explained in detail and sufficiently the various problems of the so-called Geomsu Wanbak bill," adding, "I also spoke about measures to ensure the fairness and neutrality of prosecutorial investigations."

When asked whether they discussed exercising the presidential veto (reconsideration request) on the bill, Kim replied, "Regarding the specific content mentioned by the president, I believe there will be a separate statement from the Blue House," and added, "It does not seem appropriate for me to comment on it."

Regarding criticism that the timing of his resignation announcement was ambiguous, he was reserved, saying, "Since it is a personal decision, it does not seem appropriate to discuss it here."

When asked if he would resign again if the Geomsu Wanbak bill could not be stopped, he said, "I will do my best."

Kim Oh-soo voluntarily tendered his resignation the day before after the Democratic Party proposed the Geomsu Wanbak bill. Originally, Kim was scheduled to appear before the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee that day to explain the unfairness of the bill, but the meeting was canceled after his voluntary resignation.

However, the atmosphere changed that afternoon when President Moon rejected Kim's resignation and expressed his intention to meet with him. Kim, who had been on leave and in seclusion, hurriedly returned to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to prepare for the presidential meeting. Before the meeting with President Moon, Kim spent about two hours organizing the prosecution's position and related matters.

The nationwide meeting of high-ranking prosecutors, which was convened due to Kim's resignation, lasted about seven hours. All six high-ranking prosecutors nationwide are waiting at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to hear the results of the meeting between President Moon and Kim and to express their positions.

Kim plans to explain the results of the meeting with President Moon to the high-ranking prosecutors and discuss future response measures. Depending on the content of the meeting, the possibility of all high-ranking prosecutors resigning cannot be ruled out.

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