Im Eun-jeong Appears Before Ministry of Justice Eligibility Review Committee: "Who Judges Whose Eligibility?"

Im Eun-jung, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office's Important Economic Crimes Investigation Division (49, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 30), appeared on the afternoon of the 2nd at the Prosecutor Qualification Review Committee held at the Ministry of Justice Government Gwacheon Complex, protesting the Ministry of Justice's decision to classify her as a subject for in-depth prosecutor qualification review, stating, "I have no illegitimate children and have not received sexual entertainment at villas."

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im said, "People like that become Prosecutor General, Deputy Minister of Justice, and Chief Prosecutors, so is it right that the person who raises such issues is repeatedly subjected to in-depth review?"

Chief Prosecutor Lim Eun-jung is answering questions from the press while attending the Prosecutor Qualification Review Committee held at the Ministry of Justice in Gwacheon on the 2nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

It is known that Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im became a subject of in-depth review due to low work evaluations in recent years. She said, "It is not an easy world where whistleblowers receive good evaluations from their superiors," adding, "It is sad that the sad reality of who is qualified and unqualified keeps repeating, but since whistleblowers cannot live easily, I will calmly follow my path."

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im particularly claimed that the 2015 evaluation results, which were included in the evaluation period when she passed the qualification review in February 2016, were included in this review and that she would raise procedural defects in the review. She said, "It is absurd who is reviewing whose qualifications," and added, "If a retirement order is issued, I will immediately apply for a suspension of execution and continue to come to the office."

Before appearing, she also posted on her social media service (SNS) Facebook account, "In the court of history that distinguishes the unqualified, it will be the Ministry of Justice, not me, that will be placed in the defendant's seat."

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im said, "There is also a saying not to worry because the Ministry of Justice, which passed former Prosecutor Jeong Soon-shin as qualified for the National Investigation Headquarters Chief without issue, is the Ministry of Justice," and added, "There are many who say they are more worried about you because the Ministry of Justice considers former Prosecutor Jeong Soon-shin, who thinks the ultimate goal of investigation is not 'discovery of substantive truth and judicial justice' but 'guilty verdict,' as qualified."

She also wrote, "Petitions from more than 40,000 people have flown into my office. I was thinking of going proudly even alone, but since there are so many people together, I feel reassured," and added, "I am happily heading to the Ministry of Justice in Gwacheon, carrying the hearts of all these people in a box."

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im appointed seven special defense attorneys, including Seo Bo-hak, professor at Kyung Hee University Law School, lawyers Kim Hee-su, Min Kyung-han, Lee Young-gi, and pastor Kim Yong-mok.

According to Article 39 of the Prosecutors' Office Act, prosecutors, excluding the Prosecutor General, undergo qualification reviews every seven years after appointment. Among them, prosecutors judged to have low job performance ability are classified as subjects for 'in-depth qualification review.' Prosecutors subject to in-depth qualification review are referred to the Prosecutor Qualification Review Committee, composed of nine members including lawyers, prosecutors, and law professors.

The review committee can recommend retirement to the Minister of Justice with the approval of two-thirds or more of the members present. If the Minister of Justice deems it appropriate, they submit a retirement order proposal to the President.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im, who was commissioned in 2001, underwent her third regular qualification review last year and was classified as a subject for in-depth qualification review. She was also classified as a subject for in-depth qualification review in 2015 but was judged by the review committee to have no significant problems in job performance.

In December 2012, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im refused the order to make a 'blank recommendation' in the retrial of the late Yoon Joong-gil, secretary of the Progressive Party, and recommended acquittal, for which she was disciplined. Under the Moon Jae-in administration, she served as the Inspection Policy Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and raised suspicions of obstruction of investigation into former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook's case by then Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. She is currently under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on charges of leaking official secrets related to this case.