Park Beom-gye "Prosecutor's Office Restructuring Plan and Personnel Proposal Finalized... Will Meet Kim Oh-soo Within This Week"

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye / Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Regarding the prosecution's organizational reform plan and mid-level executive personnel appointments, it was stated that "the outline is almost finalized" and "there is sufficient communication at the working level." It was also mentioned that there are plans to meet with Prosecutor General Kim Osu soon to hear his opinions.

On the morning of the 17th, Minister Park made these remarks while arriving at the Ministry of Justice Government Gwacheon Complex and meeting with reporters.

Minister Park said, "I plan to meet (with Prosecutor General Kim) sometime this week. There is no rule that it must be on a weekday," adding, "There are several issues to discuss, and I need to hear opinions on the personnel appointments."

He also added, "Depending on the progress of the organizational reform plan, it could be submitted to the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday."

Earlier, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office expressed opposition to the Ministry of Justice's amendment of the 'Regulations on the Organization of the Prosecutor's Office,' which restricts direct investigations by the criminal divisions of frontline prosecutors' offices, stating that it may violate higher laws such as the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act, and contradicts the Ministry's previously emphasized policy of strengthening and specializing the criminal divisions.

In particular, the clause requiring frontline branch offices to obtain the Minister's approval before initiating investigations was criticized as potentially seriously undermining the political neutrality and independence of the prosecution, making it difficult to accept.

In response, Minister Park stated the previous day, "While maintaining the broad framework of investigative authority reform, we will exercise flexibility to realistically reflect the situation," and added, "We will accept what is acceptable and reject what is not."