Minister Jung Seongho Orders Acting Prosecutors for Prosecution Maintenance to Return to Original Positions

Minister of Justice Jung Seongho has once again ordered prosecutors who have been serving as acting prosecutors for extended periods to return to their original positions, with the aim of maintaining prosecutions. However, he has allowed temporary acting appointments only in exceptional cases, such as major crimes affecting public welfare or areas requiring specialized expertise.

Jung Sungho, Minister of Justice. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 1st, the Ministry of Justice announced, "Minister Jung has instructed that the system of acting prosecutors for the purpose of maintaining prosecutions should be operated in a way that reasonably balances the principle of separating investigation and prosecution with the exercise of prosecutorial power to protect the nation and its people from crime."

Minister Jung permitted temporary acting appointments in the following cases: when it is necessary to question a victim as a witness in sex crimes, child abuse, or violent crime cases where a relationship of trust has been established with the victim or at the victim's request; when it is necessary to protect victims in large-scale disasters or cases involving multiple victims, such as by ensuring the right of victims and bereaved families to testify in court; when expert opinions are needed on legal issues in specialized fields such as technology, finance, securities, taxation, or the Serious Accidents Punishment Act; and in other special circumstances of a similar nature.

Previously, on July 21, Minister Jung issued his first directive after taking office, ordering a prompt review of the appropriateness of involvement in prosecutions through acting appointments of prosecutors from other prosecution offices.