'Geomsuwanbak' District Prosecutors' Meeting... Inside Prosecution "Disclose Meeting Contents"

Kim Suhyun, Tongyeong Branch Chief: "Everyone Has the Right to Share and Know Discussions"

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] As the nationwide prosecutors' chiefs meeting on the so-called ‘Geomsu Wanbak (Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Authority)’ bill, promoted by the Democratic Party of Korea, was held, there are even demands from the field to disclose the contents of the prosecutors' chiefs meeting to the members, heating up the atmosphere inside the prosecution.

Kim Soo-hyun, Chief of Tongyeong Branch Office (age 52, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 30), posted on the internal prosecution bulletin board on the 11th, requesting "to fully disclose the contents of the prosecutors' chiefs meeting through live broadcast or other methods."

Chief Kim stated, "This matter completely shakes the existing criminal justice system and not only has a huge impact on the lives of the people but also directly affects the lives and future professional careers of the prosecution members," adding, "I believe that the public and prosecution members have the legitimate right to share and know the discussions of the executives who are responsible for the prosecution's past, present, and future."

He continued, "Moreover, after seeing the announcement of the results of the high prosecutors' chiefs meeting last Friday, I felt that more transparent disclosure is necessary," and questioned, "The results of the high prosecutors' chiefs meeting mention measures regarding political neutrality and independence, but is the true meaning of this phrase not about right or wrong, but rather a warning to some political prosecutors who have distorted and suppressed cases into 'my side' and 'your side'?"

He further said, "It is unclear whether they intend to follow the absurd claims of some politicians and disguise those absurd claims under the pretext of political independence and neutrality," and added, "If the meeting process and results were transparently disclosed, unnecessary misunderstandings and misreadings born from ignorance like mine could be prevented."

Chief Kim requested that the meeting be transparently disclosed either through live broadcast or in the form of minutes on the same day.

After Chief Kim posted this, comments appeared such as "This matter is more directly related to juniors and staff who will continue to live as prosecutors in the future rather than the prosecutors' chiefs, so it is only right that all members share the discussion contents."

Meanwhile, Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the emergency committee meeting on the same day, "The Democratic Party has so far focused on gathering opinions within the party regarding the ‘separation of prosecutorial investigation authority.’ Most agree on the basic principle of (separating prosecutorial investigation authority), and a considerable part of the opinions on follow-up measures have also been gathered," adding, "If a conclusion is reached at tomorrow’s (12th) policy general meeting, we will not hesitate."

He warned the prosecution to "restrain themselves," saying, "The decentralization of the concentrated prosecutorial power is the spirit of the times for improving the basic rights of the people."