Im Eunjeong Criticizes Jeong Sungho: "Prosecutorial Reform Plan Is a Mere Facade... Prosecution Remains in Control"

Im Eunjeong, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, visited the National Assembly on the 29th and sharply criticized Justice Minister Jeong Sungho's prosecutorial reform plan, saying, "The prosecutorial reform proposal is nothing more than a superficial gesture."

Eunjung Lim, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, attended and discussed at an urgent public hearing on prosecution reform held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 29th, under the theme "What Are the Issues of Prosecution Reform: The Speed and Direction of Prosecution Reform Desired by the People." From left: Chief Prosecutor Eunjung Lim, Dongsoo Han, former Director of the Inspection Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and Eunjeong Park, member of the Joguk Innovation Party. Photo by Yonhap News

Chief Prosecutor Im attended an urgent public hearing on prosecutorial reform titled "What Are the Issues of Prosecutorial Reform?" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building and hosted by Candlelight Action and other organizations. As a panelist, she stated, "Minister Jeong's prosecutorial reform plan seems to be merely about increasing the number of chief prosecutors, which leaves me deeply disheartened," and added, "Even Minister Jeong himself is under the control of the prosecution."

Chief Prosecutor Im explained that Minister Jeong's prosecutorial reform proposal was based on reports from Vice Minister Lee Jinsu of the Ministry of Justice and Director of the Prosecution Bureau Seong Sangheon, and argued that the government's appointments within the Ministry of Justice were misguided. She criticized, "This first round of appointments by the Ministry of Justice was rushed without a presidential transition committee, resulting in a disaster," and added, "With figures like Vice Minister Lee Jinsu and Director Seong Sangheon-prosecutors who are staunch supporters of President Yoon-the appointments inevitably led to the prosecution's dominance."

She further stated, "If the personnel overhaul within the prosecution is properly carried out, structural reform would not be necessary. However, if such an overhaul does not take place and only the Serious Crimes Investigation Office is established under the Ministry of Justice, it will merely result in an increase in positions within the ministry," and added, "Given the current personnel structure, the public can judge for themselves what would happen if the prosecution remains under the Ministry of Justice."

Moreover, she described the current prosecutorial appointments within the Ministry of Justice as a "disaster," and labeled key figures involved in personnel decisions and prosecutorial reform-beyond Minister Jeong-including Bong Wook, Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs, Vice Minister Lee Jinsu, Director Seong Sangheon, Noh Manseok, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (acting Prosecutor General), and Kim Suhong, Director of the Prosecution Division-as the "five enemies of prosecutorial reform." She added, "Some people have asked me to mention at this hearing whether there are ties between these individuals and the five major law firms, so that this personnel disaster does not lead to a failure of prosecutorial reform like during the Moon Jaein administration."

Chief Prosecutor Im stated, "There was considerable discussion within the National Planning Committee about where to place the Serious Crimes Investigation Office, and I believe competent prosecutors should be assigned to it. Given the current personnel structure, I came to support placing it under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as placing it under the Ministry of Justice would only increase positions there." Regarding supplementary investigative authority, she made her opposition clear, saying, "If supplementary investigative authority remains with the prosecution, the Prosecutors' Office would simply change its name to the Public Prosecution Office and in reality retain investigative powers." She added, "I also conveyed this position to the National Planning Committee."