Ministry of Justice Cancels Appointment of Prosecutor Candidate Involved in Police Assault

A 30-year-old prospective prosecutor, whose sentence was suspended in the first trial for assaulting a police officer, will not be allowed to wear a prosecutor's uniform.

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On the afternoon of the 12th, the Ministry of Justice held a Prosecutor Personnel Committee meeting and reportedly decided not to appoint Mr. A (31) as a new prosecutor. The Prosecutor Personnel Committee is a body that deliberates on the appointment and transfer of prosecutors.

Mr. A was prosecuted on charges of obstructing official duties after hitting a police officer twice on the head while arguing, "Why are you only siding with that side?" when police responded to an assault report in a restaurant area in Gangnam, Seoul, in the early morning of January 30. At the time, the police had responded to a 112 call reporting that "an unknown woman hit us." Mr. A had passed the final selection for new prosecutors last year and was scheduled to be appointed as a prosecutor once he received notification of passing the bar exam later this month.

Judge Lee Jong-min of the Criminal Division 3 at the Seoul Central District Court suspended the sentence of a 3 million won fine for Mr. A the day before. The court explained, "Considering the defendant's statements in court and the evidence, guilt is recognized," but "taking into account the confession and remorse, the fact that this is a first offense, and the police officer's request for leniency, the sentence was determined."

A suspended sentence is a system that postpones the sentencing for a certain period for defendants with minor offenses, and if no specific incidents occur during that period, the sentence is waived.

Following the incident, the Ministry of Justice excluded Mr. A from the pre-appointment training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute and decided to cancel his appointment on this day. However, Mr. A is expected to be able to work as a lawyer after passing the bar exam and completing six months of practical training.

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