Hong Joonpyo: "With the Prosecution Office Disappearing After 80 Years Because of Yoon and Han, Will Prosecutors Just Stand By?"

Regarding the restructuring of the prosecution's investigative authority, Hong Joonpyo, former mayor of Daegu, argued, "If the prosecution office is dismantled as a result of the administration's political retaliation, reforms must take into account the status of prosecutors and investigators."

Hong Joonpyo, former mayor of Daegu. Photo by Asia Economy Database

On October 2, through his social media account, Hong stated, "Not only should the status of the approximately 2,100 prosecutors currently working at the prosecution office be considered, but also that of the tens of thousands of prosecution investigators." He added, "Just as with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, institutional measures must be devised so that prosecutors and prosecution investigators can work at the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency as well."

He continued, "Institutional measures should also be put in place to grant the Prosecution Service the authority to conduct supplementary investigations so that prosecutors can remain in their positions," stressing, "Although the Lee Jaemyung administration is dismantling the prosecution office as retaliation for its politicization, measures must be prepared to actively address public anxiety over criminal investigations."

Hong further stated, "The collective backlash from prosecutors dispatched to the special prosecutor's office is a natural form of resistance," and argued, "The resistance from prosecutors and investigators remaining at the prosecution office is also to be expected." He then questioned, "With the prosecution office, which has existed for over 80 years, disappearing because of Yoon Sukyeol and Han Donghoon, do you think prosecutors will simply stand by and do nothing?"

Meanwhile, on September 30, President Lee Jaemyung presided over a cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan and passed a government organization amendment bill centered on the 'abolition of the prosecution office' and the 'separation of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.' As a result, the prosecution office will lose its nameplate and its direct investigative authority for the first time in 78 years.

This amendment, led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, passed the National Assembly on September 26. The bill abolishes the direct investigative functions of the prosecution office, renames it the Prosecution Service, and establishes the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. After a one-year grace period, the amendment will take effect at the end of September next year.