Kim Osu, on the 'Kim Hak-ui Case Report' Controversy: "Will Avoid Conflict of Interest Case"

Prosecutor General nominee Kim Osu is arriving at the office set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 4th. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Kim Oh-soo, the nominee for Prosecutor General, stated on the 4th in response to some media reports suggesting that he might receive investigation updates on the 'Kim Hak-ui illegal deportation' case that occurred while he was serving as Vice Minister of Justice, "I have no intention of receiving any reports related to ongoing cases."

He added, "Regarding conflict of interest cases, if I assume the position of Prosecutor General in the future, I will strictly recuse myself in accordance with laws and regulations."

It is known that Kim received related reports on behalf of former Minister of Justice Park Sang-ki during the travel ban on former Vice Minister Kim in March 2019. In connection with this, he was recently subjected to a written investigation by the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office investigation team.

On the same day, Chosun Ilbo reported that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office sent an official letter through the Anti-Corruption Department to major prosecutors' offices nationwide, instructing them to report ongoing cases, and that the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, which is investigating the illegal deportation case of former Vice Minister Kim, was included among the recipients. The implication was that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office might be collecting information on ongoing cases for reporting to Kim, the nominee for Prosecutor General.

Immediately after the report, Kim, through the confirmation hearing preparation team, stated his position that "I will not receive any reports related to ongoing investigations" and "After assuming the office of Prosecutor General, I will recuse myself from directing investigations related to conflict of interest cases (referring to the Kim Hak-ui illegal deportation case)."

He also clarified that the Anti-Corruption Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office collecting investigation status from frontline prosecutors' offices handling major cases has nothing to do with the confirmation hearing preparation team.