Justice Minister Chung: Prosecution Must Reflect on Losing Public Trust

Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho stated via his social media (SNS) that the prosecution must first engage in reflection and introspection regarding its loss of public trust. The minister said, "Even if we argue that the cumulative history of prosecutorial abuse was the fault of some political prosecutors, we have reached a reality where the public cannot sympathize," adding, "Reflection and introspection on why public trust has been lost must come first."

He analyzed that the prosecution, with its self-assurance and arrogance that 'the prosecution is never wrong,' concealed its wrongdoings and harshly pointed out the mistakes of others. Once in power, it pursued political opponents as if hunting them down, making it a target for reform. Minister Chung pointed out that the prosecution has never offered a single apology to victims or the public, even after destroying a person's life.

Minister Chung cited the 2013 espionage fabrication case involving a Seoul City official as an example of prosecutorial abuse, noting that even after being acquitted due to fabricated evidence, the prosecution engaged in separate and retaliatory prosecutions without apologizing to the victims or the public.

Minister Chung announced that reforms to reorganize the Supreme Prosecutors' Office into a major crimes investigation office and a public prosecution office are beginning. He emphasized that these changes should be the start of restoring lost trust.

Minister Chung stated that the prosecution should consider measures to systematically review and correct flawed investigative practices and errors. He also proposed considering the establishment of an internal committee involving external experts to rectify prosecutorial affairs across the board.