"Special Prosecutor Marks a Turning Point
in Breaking Away from Prosecutorial Abuse"
Justice Minister Jeong Seongho stated on the 29th, the day all three special prosecutors (Kim Kunhee, Insurrection, and Private Chae) concluded their investigations, "The prosecution, which should be the advocate of justice, must engage in deep reflection and intense self-examination over having become the subject of investigations themselves."
Justice Minister Jeong Seongho is explaining the reason for the request to approve the arrest of Assemblyman Chu Kyung-ho at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 27th. 2025.11.27 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Minister Jeong made this remark in a post on his Facebook page, saying, "The achievements and limitations of the three special prosecutors will be judged by the people and by history."
He continued, "The prosecution must engage in thorough self-reflection regarding the reality that the special prosecutor’s investigation finally revealed the truth and led to an indictment in the corruption allegations against Kim Kunhee-such as the alleged stock price manipulation involving Deutsche Motors and the acceptance of a Dior bag-which the prosecution had previously dismissed. It is also true that I have strong doubts about whether the prosecution fulfilled its role in various cases that the National Investigation Headquarters will have to investigate in the future, as the special prosecutor’s investigations are not yet fully completed."
He further emphasized, "So-called 'political prosecutors,' who have undermined the pride of the 10,000 members of the prosecution who work silently for the people due to the abuse of prosecutorial power, must be held appropriately accountable according to the truth that comes to light."
Minister Jeong also reiterated his commitment to prosecutorial reform. He said, "Prosecutorial reform, which demands the fair and restrained exercise of authority, is an unavoidable demand of our times. We must treat this special prosecutor’s case as another turning point to break away from the history of prosecutorial abuse. The Ministry of Justice will establish an institutional system so that the new Serious Crime Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Service, which will be launched next year, can function as defenders of the people’s human rights, not as guardians of power."
He added, "We will design a criminal justice system in which the authority entrusted by the people is used solely to uncover objective facts, and where proper checks and balances are maintained between investigative and prosecutorial agencies."
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