Despite Justice Minister's Warning... Lim Eunjeong Says "The Prosecution Is Reaping What It Has Sown"

Shares Thoughts on the Proclamation of the Amended Government Organization Act

Lim Eunjeong, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, recently commented on the passage of the amendment to the Government Organization Act, which includes the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office, stating, "The prosecution is reaping what it has sown."

Lim Eunjeong, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On October 5, Chief Prosecutor Lim began her post on Facebook by saying, "Chuseok is a holiday celebrating the joy and gratitude of harvesting the five grains at the end of a year’s farming." She continued, "Watching the proclamation of the amended Government Organization Act just before the holiday break, I felt that the prosecution, too, has finally reached a season of harvest, reaping what it has sown." She added, "I regret not having tried harder to stop it, and I feel a mix of disappointment and sadness."

She went on to say, "While exchanging Chuseok greetings with my colleagues, I told them not to be disheartened by the results of this harvest, but to prepare diligently for next year so that it will not be a repeat of this year. Preparing for a fruitful year ahead should not be a struggle to protect vested interests, but rather a fight to regain the lost trust of citizens, to correct and rectify the faults and mistakes of the prosecution." She emphasized, "I am also determined to work even harder so that I will have no regrets next time."

Previously, Chief Prosecutor Lim received a warning from Minister of Justice Jeong Seongho to be mindful of her words and actions as a high-ranking public official. Less than a week after this warning, she once again voiced criticism of the prosecution. On September 29, Minister Jeong had advised Chief Prosecutor Lim, "From now on, please be cautious of any words or actions that may raise doubts about your political neutrality or fairness in your work. As the head of a frontline prosecutors' office, set an example and faithfully carry out your duties."

The background to these remarks lies in Chief Prosecutor Lim's comments at a National Assembly hearing, where she described personnel appointments within the prosecution as a "personnel disaster" and referred to certain prosecutors as the "five enemies of prosecution reform," drawing criticism both inside and outside the prosecution for inappropriate remarks.

Meanwhile, on September 26, the National Assembly passed the amendment to the Government Organization Act, which includes the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office and the separation of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, with 174 out of 180 members in attendance voting in favor. As a result, the Prosecutors' Office will be abolished after a one-year grace period, on October 2 next year.