[Column] 100 Days of Han Dong-hoon and Yang Hak-seon

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] June 24 marked the 100th day since Han Dong-hoon was appointed Minister of Justice. Over these 100 days, he left a strong impression in many ways, especially through his words. At the ‘New Prosecutors Commissioning Ceremony’ held on June 2 in the Ministry of Justice’s main conference room, his remarks about gymnastics resonated deeply within the prosecution.

Minister Han showed and compared videos of Sabino Guglielleti (1911?2006, Italy), who won the gold medal in men’s vault gymnastics at the 1932 LA Olympics, and Yang Hak-seon, who won gold in the same event at the 2012 London Olympics. He said, “Human DNA has not changed in 80 years. It’s unlikely that this athlete (Guglielleti) did not put in effort. But clearly, the skill level is different,” adding, “This is the difference in accumulated know-how and transmitted assets.” Guglielleti won simply by cleanly vaulting over the apparatus. In contrast, Yang Hak-seon reached the top with the ‘Yang Hak-seon 1’ technique, which involves a full twist on the vaulting table and three rotations in the air before landing. Over generations, athletes’ techniques and know-how have accumulated and evolved. Minister Han said the prosecution’s investigative capabilities are the same. “The investigative and trial capabilities accumulated over 70 years by the prosecution are an asset of the Korean people,” he stated. This appeared to criticize the previous administration’s misjudgment in enacting the ‘complete removal of prosecution’s investigative authority (Geomsuwanbak)’ law and to legitimize efforts toward ‘restoring prosecution’s investigative authority (Geomsuwanbok).”

However, the point to ponder is whether “our prosecution organization and investigations have advanced as much as Yang Hak-seon’s technique.” There are negative views and checks from some quarters against Minister Han’s eagerness to restore prosecution’s investigative authority without hesitation. Since his appointment, legal administration has progressed. The bar exam has been changed to a ‘paperless exam,’ the establishment of an immigration office and lowering the age of criminal responsibility for juvenile offenders have been publicized. The accommodation and working conditions of outdated correctional facilities have also been significantly improved. Compared to these, the prosecution has not noticeably changed yet. The prosecution is still not free from evaluations that so-called ‘specialized prosecutors’ are favored for key positions and that factions are divided into ‘units’ and ‘non-units.’ Public opinion is also divided over the neutrality of investigations. Even after the restoration of prosecution’s investigative authority, does Minister Han have a plan? A new Prosecutor General is also about to be appointed. It seems Minister Han’s pace will quicken further.