Unusual Prosecutors... One-Quarter of Prosecutors Post Critical Support Comments

Government's Prosecution Weakening Sparks Internal Backlash
500 Support Comments Criticizing 'Investigation Authority Adjustment'
Interest in Im Eun-jung's Position Supporting 'Prosecution Reform'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyung-min and Song Seung-yoon] Following President Moon Jae-in's New Year's press conference on the 14th, internal sentiment within the prosecution regarding the government's efforts to weaken prosecutorial power is boiling over. Depending on the results of additional personnel changes, expected to be implemented as early as before the Lunar New Year holiday, the sporadically expressed dissatisfaction within the prosecution could potentially transform into a more organized movement.

According to the prosecution on the 15th, nearly 500 comments expressing support were posted by prosecutors on a message written by Prosecutor Kim Woong, author of "Inside the Prosecutor's Office," who criticized the police-prosecution investigation authority adjustment plan as a "grand fraud" and announced his intention to resign. This post was published on the prosecution's internal communication network, 'Epross.' In the comments, prosecutors expressed outrage over the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the confirmation of the investigation authority adjustment plan, and the Ministry of Justice's high-level personnel reshuffle that demoted Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's aides, explaining the unfairness of these actions.

The backlash has intensified following President Moon's remarks at the New Year's press conference the previous day, which seemed to express distrust toward Prosecutor General Yoon. President Moon said he "owed a debt of gratitude" to former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who is under prosecution and facing indictment for personal corruption. In contrast, he criticized Prosecutor General Yoon, who clashed with Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae over personnel matters, stating that Yoon "went against the personnel process."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Similar posts with the same sentiment have been appearing daily not only on Epross but also on prosecutors' personal social media accounts, where they openly use their real names. They are expressing their opinions prepared to give up their prosecutorial positions.

The day before, three prosecutors, including Kim Woong, submitted their resignations. Kim Jong-oh, head of the Tax Crime Investigation Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who had been in charge of investigations into recent misconduct by Cho Hyun-bum, CEO of Hankook Tire, and allegations of improper loans at Sangsangin Savings Bank, said he would "live supporting the prosecution" as he left. Prosecutor Song Han-seop of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office also resigned on the same day. Earlier, Kim Woo-hyun, head of the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office, Park Gyun-taek, director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, and Lee Young-joo, deputy director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, who had publicly criticized the investigation authority adjustment, had also resigned.

After the follow-up personnel changes, there is a possibility that the internal backlash will extend beyond the prosecution and manifest as public distrust toward the government. The Ministry of Justice is expected to carry out personnel changes for mid-level executives on the 22nd or 23rd, following the approval of the organizational reform plan at the Cabinet meeting on the 21st. It is anticipated that the leadership of the investigation teams examining the three major controversies of the administration (the Cho Kuk family corruption, election interference and directed investigations by the Blue House and ruling party, and the suspension of Yoon Jae-soo's inspection) will be largely replaced.

The status of Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lim Eun-jung of the Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office, who supports the government's prosecution reform while publicizing internal prosecution issues, is also a matter of interest. It is known that there are considerable concerns about Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lim joining the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Meanwhile, outside the prosecution, external experts continue to voice concerns about the Ministry of Justice's personnel decisions, creating an atmosphere that supports the prosecution. Professor Jeon Sung-in of Hongik University's Department of Economics stated on social media that "the problem with this personnel change was not Prosecutor General Yoon's insubordination but Minister Choo's 'prosecution bypass,' which did not substantially and sufficiently comply with the provisions of the Prosecutors' Office Act."