Kim Osu on Democratic Party's 'Fake Resignation': "Truly Unprecedented... The People Will Judge"

by Kim Daehyun

Published 21 Apr.2022 10:02(KST)

Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo is answering questions from the press as he arrives at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 21st. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Kim Osu, Prosecutor General, criticized Min Hyungbae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, for abruptly leaving the party to push forward the so-called 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecutorial investigation rights) legislation, calling it "a truly unprecedented act."

On the morning of the 21st, Prosecutor General Kim met with reporters on his way to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and said, "Compliance with due process is stipulated in the Constitution," adding, "Whether it is appropriate for a constitutional institution that must comply with this to forcibly process it is something the public will evaluate."

The Democratic Party submitted a request to form a coordination committee on the Geomsu Wanbak bill to the National Assembly's Judiciary Committee after Min's change to independent status the previous day. Originally, the plan was to break through the coordination committee with a 4 to 2 majority if Yang Hyangja, an independent lawmaker formerly of the Democratic Party who was assigned to the Judiciary Committee, cooperated. However, after Yang expressed opposition to Geomsu Wanbak, the party made this 'player substitution.' If the coordination committee passes, it is considered to have passed the subcommittee review and can be immediately submitted to the plenary session.

Regarding this, Prosecutor General Kim pointed out, "If the fairness and neutrality of prosecutorial investigations are not guaranteed, and if repeated investigations and prosecutions that protect their own members are the problem, then it would be appropriate to address those parts with surgical precision, limited to those areas."

He continued, "I question whether it is appropriate to completely prohibit prosecutorial investigations, which significantly affect the public's life and safety, bodily freedom, property protection, and public safety, and to monopolize them by other state agencies without any countermeasures. As the representative of the prosecution, I cannot accept this," adding, "Since the National Assembly situation is progressing urgently, I will take appropriate steps while observing the situation."

Regarding the demand for responsible attitudes from Prosecutor General Kim and others at the nationwide chief prosecutors' meeting the previous day, he said, "I am grateful on behalf of the prosecution," but added, "However, since the meeting was voluntarily held after work and I have not received detailed opinions from them, I will carefully review it as it is a decision made after long discussions and carries significant weight."

On the proposal of 'regular meetings of ordinary prosecutors' at the nationwide ordinary prosecutors' meeting as a measure to ensure prosecutorial fairness, he elaborated, "We are currently concretizing alternative prosecutorial reform plans and proposals to the National Assembly," and "It can be reviewed together there."

Regarding the nationwide prosecutors' investigators' meeting to be held that afternoon, Prosecutor General Kim said, "Investigators do not exist for themselves but work to protect the public's life and safety, bodily freedom, property protection, honor, and various rights," adding, "Excluding their roles by immediately abolishing legal provisions without deep consideration of the work investigators do is neither appropriate behavior nor legislation."

Regarding Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office Chief Jo Jongtae sending a protest message to Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yongmin, he said, "I spoke with Chief Jo this morning and told him it was inappropriate behavior," adding, "I earnestly hope that lawmakers, as constitutional institutions, will make wise decisions and careful judgments within the broader framework."