National Prosecutors' Meeting... Prosecutors Warn "Hasty Implementation of Partial Criminal Investigation Reform Harms the Public"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Regarding the Democratic Party's legislative push for 'Geomsu Wanbak (Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Authority),' chief prosecutors of district prosecutor's offices nationwide voiced a unified opinion on the 11th, stating that "a cautious approach is necessary to prevent harm to the public caused by hasty and reckless legal amendments."

From 10 a.m. on the same day, a nationwide meeting of district prosecutors was held in the 15th-floor conference room of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, attended by Prosecutor General Kim Osu (59, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 20) and chief prosecutors from 18 district prosecutor's offices nationwide.

At around 9:25 a.m., Roh Junghwan, chief prosecutor of Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, arrived at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and said, "Geomsu Wanbak undermines the spirit and values of the Constitution," adding, "I believe that lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties will carefully consider the will of the people and constitutional provisions, especially listen to the opinions of expert groups, hold public hearings, and carefully decide after hearing from those who have been harmed by the current judicial system operation as well as those who think the prosecution and police are doing well."

Regarding internal criticism that "the prosecution leadership and top officials are responding passively while watching the government's stance," he stated, "The very discussion of Geomsu Wanbak is a strong criticism of the prosecution by citizens who support discussions about the prosecution. If such citizens are in the majority, naturally the prosecution must reflect on whether there is anything to reform. Significant discussions will take place today."

In response to Minister of Justice Park Beomgye's negative remarks earlier that morning about the prosecution's opposition to Geomsu Wanbak, he rebutted, "This is a constitutional-related system involving the interests of 10 million people. How could it not go through a cautious procedure? The prosecution is the most important expert group, so it is only natural to discuss and provide opinions to the legislative body. It is premature to view this simply as a confrontational stance or collective backlash."

He added, "As public officials, we believe it is right to discuss and propose various opinions as administrative officials if those with legislative authority amend the law, considering whether it fits the legal system and what the better direction is. It is not right to not even have discussions."

Kim Hugon, chief prosecutor of Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, also arrived at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office at around 9:41 a.m. and emphasized, "After implementing the amended (criminal) law for one year, there has been confusion and many points to improve. However, if the law is suddenly changed without sufficient review despite various efforts and the police also facing difficulties, it will cause tremendous harm to the public."

Chief Prosecutor Kim said, "At today's meeting, we will exchange many good opinions among ourselves and convey the various voices of frontline prosecutors to the Prosecutor General without omission. We will do our best to prevent the passage of a flawed law without sufficient review. We ask for the media and the public's keen interest."

Earlier, Prosecutor General Kim Osu, around 8:45 a.m., upon entering the underground parking lot of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office by car, turned the vehicle around and met the waiting press at the entrance. He said, "(Please) watch (the meeting)," adding, "I am thinking the meeting will last until lunch, so it might be a bit long."

In his opening remarks after the meeting began, Prosecutor General Kim said, "Since there have been significant changes in criminal law, procedures have become complicated, case processing delayed, and various problems and confusion have occurred, with the damage being directly passed on to the public," and "Changing criminal justice procedures overnight causes severe confusion. Such important institutional changes must be based on public consensus and go through sufficient discussion."

He also emphasized, "If the prosecution's investigative function is abolished, as the Prosecutor General, I will have no meaningful role to perform. I will not cling to my position and will not shy away from any responsibility."

At the meeting, two agenda items were scheduled for discussion: ▲ the bill to abolish prosecutorial investigative authority and ▲ effective measures to ensure fairness and neutrality in prosecutorial investigations. However, the focus is expected to be on the discussion of the 'bill to abolish prosecutorial investigative authority.'