Acting Chief Jonamgwan Nears End of Term... "Seeing the Records Should Make Your Heart Race"

Asked 73 newly appointed prosecutors to "review records with passion and never lose your initial resolve" recently

Jonamgwan Acting Prosecutor General (Deputy Prosecutor General, Supreme Prosecutors' Office) /

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Acting Prosecutor General Cho Nam-gwan (Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office) delivered a message to new prosecutors to "never lose their initial resolve." Having mentioned "fairness" and "trust" at the induction ceremony for military prosecutors last month, he has been emphasizing fundamentals within the prosecution continuously.

According to the legal community on the 11th, Acting Prosecutor General Cho conveyed this message at the induction ceremony for 73 new prosecutors who passed the 10th bar exam from law schools, urging them to maintain their passion and initial resolve.

Acting Prosecutor General Cho stressed the basics. "Prosecutors should feel their hearts race when reviewing case files. This applies equally to rookie prosecutors, chief prosecutors, and prosecutor generals," he said, indirectly sending a message to the prosecution executives present at the event. He continued, "I ask you to always review records with passion and to be prosecutors who never lose their initial resolve," encouraging them.

Earlier, last month, Acting Prosecutor General Cho also mentioned fundamentals to new prosecutors, saying, "Please become fair prosecutors who resolve the grievances of the people." He added, "To resolve grievances, one must first be fair, and although it may be difficult, one must humbly and modestly listen to the voices of the parties involved."

Within the prosecution, this induction ceremony is seen as the last occasion for Acting Prosecutor General Cho to deliver an official message. Considering that the confirmation hearing for Prosecutor General nominee Kim Oh-soo is scheduled for the end of this month, it is likely that his acting duties will naturally conclude.

Acting Prosecutor General Cho has built trust within the prosecution while leading the organization through last year's disciplinary incident involving former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and this year's timing of Yoon's resignation. This is also why he was mentioned as a candidate for Prosecutor General until the very end.

Initially, Acting Prosecutor General Cho was classified as pro-government while serving as Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice during former Minister Choo Mi-ae's tenure. However, during former Prosecutor General Yoon's disciplinary incident, he appealed to former Minister Choo to withdraw the disciplinary request, and just before the prosecution personnel reshuffle after Minister Park Beom-gye's inauguration, he drew attention by representing the prosecution's stance, stating "there should be no pinpoint personnel changes."

He also showed decisiveness in the burdensome role of acting prosecutor general. Last month, when Minister Park ordered a re-examination of the former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook case at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office chiefs' meeting, he involved high prosecutors in the meeting to prevent the conflict from escalating.

The legal community expects Acting Prosecutor General Cho to continue his role as Deputy Prosecutor General for the time being. Given the strong possibility of a new pro-government Prosecutor General, there is no reason to replace the prosecution's second-in-command at once and increase internal opposition. Moreover, the possibility of Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Sung-yoon, who was pushed out of the Prosecutor General candidate pool and is facing indictment, moving to Deputy Prosecutor General has significantly decreased.