Ministry of Justice Reprimands Prosecutor Jung Jinwoong Acquitted of "Han Donghoon Official Misconduct and Assault"

"Failed to comply with search and seizure procedures... Damaged the dignity of the office"

Jinwoong Jung, Prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, who was acquitted of charges of official misconduct and assault against former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon, has received a reprimand as disciplinary action.

Jinwoong Jung, Prosecutor at Seoul High Prosecutors' Office.

On December 26, the Ministry of Justice announced in the official gazette that Prosecutor Jung was disciplined for violating official duties and damaging his dignity under the Prosecutors’ Disciplinary Act.

The Ministry of Justice stated, "During the execution of a search and seizure warrant, Prosecutor Jung failed to comply with the procedures stipulated by relevant regulations," and added, "In the process, he distributed photos of himself receiving treatment at a hospital and a statement as if he were the victim, thereby damaging the dignity of his office."

Previously, in July 2020, while serving as Chief of Criminal Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Prosecutor Jung was involved in a physical altercation with former leader Han during a search and seizure related to the so-called 'Channel A case.' Prosecutors charged Jung with official misconduct and assault under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and sent the case to trial in October 2020. However, in November 2022, the Supreme Court acquitted him, confirming his innocence.

Separately, in February last year, the Ministry of Justice imposed a two-month suspension on Prosecutor Jung for "violation of official duties" and "damage to dignity" under the Prosecutors’ Disciplinary Act. Prosecutor Jung filed an administrative lawsuit against the Ministry of Justice seeking to overturn the disciplinary action. The court of first instance ruled in favor of Jung, stating that the suspension was an abuse of discretion, and the appellate court also dismissed the Ministry’s appeal, making the judgment final.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Ministry of Justice imposed a three-month suspension on Lee Junghyun (40th class), a prosecutor at the Ulsan District Prosecutors’ Office, for damaging the dignity of his office by sexually harassing a female investigator in the prosecutor’s office. Kim Taeyoung (47th class), a prosecutor at the Gunsan Branch of the Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office, received a reprimand for damaging the dignity of his office by assaulting a junior prosecutor during a company dinner while intoxicated, including grabbing the junior prosecutor by the collar.