Public Prosecution Office inspection chief criticizes Justice Ministry truth team
In short
Kim Seong-dong, the chief prosecutor heading the Public Prosecution Office's inspection department, publicly criticized the Truth Investigation Team of the Justice Ministry's Prosecutors' Human Rights Respect Future Committee, calling it a serious threat to the independence of prosecutors' duties. The team is examining 19 cases, including the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case. The Justice Ministry set up the committee in June to review whether prosecution authorities abused their power in cases involving President Lee Jae-myung.
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Kim Seong-dong, a chief prosecutor who heads the inspection department of the Public Prosecution Office, has publicly criticized the Truth Investigation Team of the Justice Ministry's Prosecutors' Human Rights Respect Future Committee, saying it poses a serious threat to the independence of prosecutors' duties, as reported by Newsis, the Dong-A Ilbo and the Chosun Ilbo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The Dong-A Ilbo reported that Kim posted the criticism on the Public Prosecution Office's internal network on October 2, the day the office was launched. He wrote that a major change in the criminal justice system had begun, but that independence of prosecutorial duties was under serious threat in the form of the team's formation and activities, the newspaper reported. Kim argued that a direction by former Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho for the team to investigate without being commanded by the prosecutor general runs against Article 9 of the Public Prosecution Office Act, which states that the justice minister may direct and supervise only the prosecutor general on specific cases. He added that excluding the prosecutor general's command authority and specifying the cases under investigation after the fact goes directly against the Prosecutors' Office Act. [ 2 ]
The team is investigating 19 cases, including the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, the Dong-A Ilbo reported. The Chosun Ilbo reported that the Justice Ministry launched the committee in June, saying it would examine whether prosecution authorities abused their power while investigating and indicting cases in which President Lee Jae-myung is implicated or was charged. The Chosun Ilbo described Kim's position as being that there are legal grounds to question the team's activities. [ 2 , 3 ]
The documents contain no response from the Justice Ministry or the committee to Kim's criticism, and no indication of how the team's investigations will proceed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The dispute sets the inspection arm of the newly launched Public Prosecution Office against a Justice Ministry review body at the outset, and it questions how that body's investigations can proceed while related cases are on trial. The documents report no response from the ministry or the committee, leaving the practical outcome of the challenge unresolved.
Key facts
- Kim Seong-dong, a chief prosecutor who heads the Public Prosecution Office's inspection department, publicly criticized the Truth Investigation Team of the Justice Ministry's Prosecutors' Human Rights Respect Future Committee. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim said the team's work amounts to a serious threat to the independence of prosecutors' duties. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The team is investigating 19 cases, including the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case. [ 2 ]
- Kim posted his criticism on the Public Prosecution Office's internal network on October 2, the day the office was launched. [ 2 ]
- Kim argued that a direction by former Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho for the team to investigate without the prosecutor general's command violates Article 9 of the Public Prosecution Office Act, which says the justice minister may direct and supervise only the prosecutor general on specific cases. [ 2 ]
- The Justice Ministry established the committee in June to examine whether prosecution authorities abused their power in cases involving or brought against President Lee Jae-myung. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The Chosun Ilbo reported that Kim argues the team's activities are open to question on legal grounds. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Seong-dong, a chief prosecutor who heads the Public Prosecution Office's inspection department, has publicly criticized the Truth Investigation Team of the Justice Ministry's Prosecutors' Human Rights Respect Future Committee. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim said the team's formation and activities amount to a serious threat to the independence of prosecutors' duties. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The Justice Ministry established the Prosecutors' Human Rights Respect Future Committee in June to examine whether prosecution authorities abused their power in cases involving President Lee Jae-myung. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the Truth Investigation Team's activities are unlawful, as Kim claims. The allegation comes from one official, and the documents report no ruling or finding on its legality.
- How the Justice Ministry or the committee responded to the criticism. None of the documents include a response from the ministry or the committee.
- The full list of the 19 cases under review. Only the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case is named, and the figure of 19 appears in a single document.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On October 2, the day the Public Prosecution Office is launched, Kim Seong-dong posts his criticism of the Truth Investigation Team on the office's internal network. [ 2 ]
- Newsis reports that the Public Prosecution Office's inspection department head again raised the objection that the team threatens the independence of prosecutors' duties. [ 1 ]
- The Dong-A Ilbo reports Kim's criticism, including the 19 cases under review and his reading of Article 9 of the Public Prosecution Office Act. [ 2 ]
- The Chosun Ilbo reports that Kim has publicly claimed the team's activities may be unlawful. [ 3 ]