Head Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Urges Deputy Minister Kim Osu, "Do Not Betray the Conscience of Legal Professionals"

Kim Oh-soo, Acting Minister of Justice, is announcing the 2020 New Year's special pardon on the 30th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The government is granting special pardons to 5,174 individuals, including general criminal offenders, conscientious objectors to military service, specially considered prisoners, and election offenders. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] A senior prosecutor affiliated with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office criticized Kim Oh-soo, Deputy Minister of Justice, saying, "Do not turn a blind eye to illegality."

Jung Hee-do (54, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 31), head of the Inspection Division 2 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, posted a message titled "To the Deputy Minister of Justice" on the internal prosecution network 'E-PROS' around 9 a.m. on the 29th, stating that Deputy Minister Kim has failed to mediate the conflict between the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution.

Jung said, "I saw a media report yesterday that the Ministry of Justice issued instructions to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and 66 offices nationwide to 'actively utilize internal and external consultative bodies,'" adding, "It appears to be intended to intervene in specific cases such as the 'election interference case,' and such instructions violate the Prosecutors' Office Act."

He continued, "While the Minister is a politician, the Deputy Minister is a pure legal professional who is far removed from politics," and demanded, "You should not have turned a blind eye to such illegality and should have risked your position to stop it. Please do not betray the 'conscience of a legal professional' any longer." He added, "I will not comply with illegality. I reject fake prosecution reform and political prosecution," and urged, "Please show the conscience of a legal professional."

Previously, Jung also criticized Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's personnel appointments of chief prosecutors as "personnel moves intended to make the Prosecutor General a figurehead." On the 13th, he posted, "Unfair personnel moves such as targeting investigators related to specific cases will produce 'Political Prosecutor Season 2' and turn back the clock, making the prosecution a servant of the regime again."

On the 23rd, when Choi Kang-wook, Secretary for Public Discipline at the Blue House, was indicted and Minister Choo hinted at the possibility of an inspection, Jung said, "(The indictment) was lawfully carried out under the direction of the Prosecutor General, and conducting an inspection would be a clear abuse of authority."

Jung will be reassigned as head of the Criminal Division 1 at Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office on the 3rd of next month following recent mid-level personnel changes.