Kim Namjun, Chair of the Legal and Prosecution Reform Committee, "Prosecution Reform is the People's Aspiration"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] Kim Namjun, Chairman of the Legal and Prosecutorial Reform Committee, emphasized that "prosecutorial reform is a timely task that reflects the people's aspirations." According to Chairman Kim, prosecutorial reform means ending the era in which the prosecution itself becomes an omnipotent power.

On the 28th, after presenting the 25th recommendation at the Ministry of Justice, Chairman Kim stated in a briefing, "As the committee concludes its activities, we report the progress to the public."

Chairman Kim pointed out, "We have seriously considered what true prosecutorial reform means. While power institutions that grew excessively during the military dictatorship have gradually found their proper place after democratization, the prosecution cannot be an exception." He explained that prosecutorial reform means restoring the prosecution to the position mandated by the Constitution.

Regarding the prosecution's personnel authority, he said, "There has been much controversy over whether the Minister of Justice or the Prosecutor General should exercise it," adding, "The answer is to ensure that no one can unilaterally control prosecutorial personnel decisions." Previously, the Reform Committee recommended regularizing the Prosecutorial Personnel Committee to meet once a month, including democratically elected representatives of prosecutors by rank, and granting it substantial authority such as reviewing appointments of heads of institutions. Chairman Kim explained, "If the Prosecutorial Personnel Committee functions properly, it will be difficult for either the Minister or the Prosecutor General to wield personnel authority alone."

He also mentioned the 'comprehensiveness' of prosecutorial reform. Chairman Kim said, "This is why a well-coordinated reform package is necessary," and added, "For the reform plans to be properly implemented, the reform package must be realized comprehensively."

Finally, Chairman Kim confessed, "Throughout the committee's activities, we received the public's passionate interest and support, as well as sharp criticism and reproach, more than we deserved," and said, "While we do not believe the 25 recommendations presented by the committee are the unquestionable correct answers, we have done our utmost to think deeply and fiercely to establish principles and directions that can serve as standards when our society discusses prosecutorial reform."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Reform Committee recommended that the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office disclose internal regulations that have been kept confidential according to certain standards and establish criteria for transparently managing future newly enacted or revised internal regulations.

Regarding administrative matters, the committee advised that disclosure should be the principle when necessary to improve the transparency of legal and prosecutorial administration. However, if confidentiality must be maintained inevitably, the titles of the relevant internal regulations should be disclosed on the websites of the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.