[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) sweeps across the country, it has been confirmed that there are confirmed cases within the prosecution as well.
According to the prosecution on the 23rd, one investigator belonging to the Daegu Western District Prosecutors' Office was diagnosed with COVID-19 on that day. It is also known that the investigator's mother was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 21st.
Fortunately, it has been identified that this investigator has not had contact with any civil petitioners at the Daegu Western District Prosecutors' Office so far. This is because the Daegu Western District Prosecutors' Office placed the investigator under self-quarantine immediately after receiving a report from the investigator on the 20th that his mother was undergoing a COVID-19 test.
The Daegu Western District Prosecutors' Office closed all offices where the employee worked and placed all staff who had contact with him under self-quarantine. The Daegu Western District Prosecutors' Office stated, "We will promptly take necessary measures according to the results of the epidemiological investigation by health authorities."
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office explained, "We took swift action according to the response manual," and added, "We will continue efforts at each office to block infections and ensure that the prosecution's law enforcement system and capabilities are not paralyzed."
Earlier, on the morning of the 21st, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office held an expanded executive meeting to review the prosecution's response to COVID-19 and to establish future action plans.
Immediately after the meeting, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office formed and activated a 'COVID-19 Response Task Force (TF)' team. Lee Jung-soo, Director of the Planning and Coordination Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, was appointed as the team leader. Additionally, response teams were formed at 18 local prosecutors' offices. In particular, Daegu, where the COVID-19 spread most rapidly, formed a response team the day before the meeting and took preemptive measures such as distributing masks and personal hygiene supplies.
Furthermore, the prosecution plans to minimize summons investigations that require suspects and witnesses to come to the prosecution office for questioning. This is intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 that could occur due to unnecessary movement of case-related persons. The same applies to suspects physically detained in detention facilities. Also, prosecution-related events are being refrained from, and programs such as prosecution office tours are postponed.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl has decided to suspend visits to local prosecutors' offices for the time being. Prosecutor General Yoon visited Busan High Prosecutors' Office and District Prosecutors' Office on the 13th, and Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office and District Prosecutors' Office on the 20th, and was considering visiting Daegu High Prosecutors' Office and District Prosecutors' Office on the 27th. However, considering the rapid spread of COVID-19 recently and the difficulty of holding events where many staff gather, such as meetings, internal inspections, and dinners, the local visit schedule has been temporarily suspended. Remaining schedules will be decided after March depending on the COVID-19 situation.
Prosecutor General Yoon urged frontline prosecutors, "Strictly comply with government policies for COVID-19 prevention and ensure that there is no gap in the enforcement of criminal law, which is a core national function, by making thorough responses."
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