[Exclusive] "Made the President Look Like a Fool Deceived by Prosecutors"... Prosecutor Ahn Mihyun Directly Criticizes Im Eunjeong

Criticism of Im Eunjeong's "Five Enemies of Prosecutorial Reform" Remarks on Internal Network
"Focus on the Cases and Organization of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office as Chief Prosecutor"

Prosecutor Ahn Mihyun of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (age 46, 41st class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute) directly criticized Im Eunjeong, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, for her remarks naming Minister of Justice Jeong Sungho as one of the "Five Enemies of Prosecution Reform." Ahn stated, "She publicly made the president look like a fool deceived by prosecutors." Prosecutor Ahn is known for exposing the "Kangwon Land investigation external pressure allegations" in 2018, and in July, she also posted a rebuttal asking for "guidance on the direction of prosecution reform."

Prosecutor Ahn Mihyun, who exposed allegations of external pressure related to the investigation of recruitment corruption at Kangwon Land, held a press conference on the 15th at the Lawyer Education and Culture Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, presenting her position and opinions on the investigation conducted so far. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

On the 3rd, Prosecutor Ahn posted on the prosecution's internal network (Epros), openly criticizing Chief Prosecutor Im, saying, "How can a sitting prosecutor, especially a chief prosecutor, publicly criticize the president's personnel decisions?"

Prosecutor Ahn said, "Chief Prosecutor Im, who once said, 'Let's try to change today so that when we leave this tunnel, we reach a better place,' attended an emergency public hearing on prosecution reform with Assemblyman Park Honggeun of the Democratic Party of Korea and Assemblywoman Park Eunjung of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, among others. There, she mentioned by name a public official appointed by the sitting president, labeling them as one of the 'Five Enemies of Prosecution Reform.' I could understand if it was just a matter of listening to statements or holding interviews, but she even said that the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority should be abolished. Perhaps that was the 'way to change today' she intended to give me."

She continued, "As a junior prosecutor, I was devastated to hear Chief Prosecutor Im's remarks at the public hearing. Where is the pure and beautiful soul that was once my senior, Im Eunjeong, who used to discuss the problems of the prosecution and prosecution reform with us?"

Prosecutor Ahn criticized further, "Without even confirming the president's intentions behind a personnel appointment, you publicly make the president look like a fool deceived by prosecutors and demand that the president immediately dismiss someone. Isn't this kind of blatant interference in the president's personnel decisions by a prosecutor an example of the arrogance that has become one of the arguments for dismantling the prosecution today?"

She also criticized Chief Prosecutor Im's call for the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority. Prosecutor Ahn said, "No matter how much you've treated your main work as a prosecutor as a side job and lived as an influencer, how can you not even understand the concept of investigation?"

Prosecutor Ahn argued, "If things go as Chief Prosecutor Im says, it would not be prosecution reform but the collapse of the criminal justice system. Instead of just shouting the political rhetoric of prosecution reform, I hope you will take responsibility for the cases and organization of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office as its chief prosecutor."

She added, "Just as Yoon Sukyeol, who was praised as a righteous prosecutor, bypassed the deputy chief prosecutor position to become chief prosecutor, abused his investigative authority as a prosecutor, and, after resigning as Prosecutor General, immediately ran for president and became trapped by the voices of his fans after being elected, are you, Chief Prosecutor Im, also dreaming of becoming a National Assembly member, Minister of Justice, or Chief of the Public Prosecution Service, trapped by the voices of your fans and abandoning political neutrality after becoming chief prosecutor on the back of public praise as a righteous prosecutor?"

At the end, Prosecutor Ahn stated, "If you continue to act not as a chief prosecutor but as a 'prosecutor undertaker,' then after the collapse of the judiciary as you desire, history will record the name Im Eunjeong alongside Yoon Sukyeol as one of the 'Five Enemies of Judicial Collapse.'"

On July 8, Prosecutor Ahn also posted on Epros regarding "prosecution reform," saying, "I agreed with you, Chief Prosecutor, that the prosecution must change and be reformed, but the point where I thought I needed to change was in ensuring investigations and personnel decisions independent from political power."

Previously, on August 29, Chief Prosecutor Im named Vice Minister of Justice Lee Jinsu, Director General of the Prosecution Bureau of the Ministry of Justice Seong Sangheon, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Presidential Office Bong Wook, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Noh Manseok, and Director General of the Prosecution Bureau of the Ministry of Justice Kim Suhong as the "Five Enemies of Prosecution Reform" at a prosecution reform forum. She also criticized Minister Jeong, saying, "Real reform of the investigative structure and separation of investigation and indictment, not just window dressing, is the president's pledge and fulfilling it is the duty of a public official. Anyone who does not adopt such an attitude should not remain as an executive at the Ministry of Justice."