Mass Resignations and Public Criticism: Jeong Seong-ho's Leadership Tested Amid Prosecutorial Reform Backlash

[Financial News] With the Government Organization Act amendment, which centers on abolishing the Prosecutors' Office and separating investigation and indictment powers, passing the Cabinet meeting, unrest within the prosecution is growing. The leadership of Minister of Justice Jeong Seong-ho, who must spearhead prosecutorial reform, is now under the spotlight.
According to the legal community on the 8th, Minister Jeong on the 29th of last month advised Im Eun-jung, Chief Prosecutor of the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, that as a senior public official, posting personal opinions that could be interpreted as political on social networking services (SNS) or making public statements is undesirable in itself. He further urged caution regarding any words or actions that could raise doubts about political neutrality or fairness in duties, and emphasized the importance of setting an example and fulfilling core responsibilities as a chief prosecutor.
On the 1st, Minister Jeong also attended the plenary session of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. When Seo Beom-su of the People Power Party asked whether Im Eun-jung's remarks were appropriate, Jeong responded, "There are various issues. I will pay close attention to maintaining discipline within the prosecution."
Im Eun-jung has continued to make political statements regarding prosecutorial reform. On August 29, at a public hearing on prosecutorial reform held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, Im criticized Minister Jeong for proposing the establishment of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), stating, "It is dominated by the prosecution." Im also labeled Bong Wook, Jinsoo Lee, Sung Sang-heon, Kim Soo-hong, and Noh Man-seok as the 'Five Enemies of Prosecutorial Reform.'
On the 5th, Im Eun-jung posted on Facebook about the passage of the Government Organization Act amendment in the National Assembly, saying, "Watching the promulgation of the amended Government Organization Act just before the holiday, it seemed the prosecution was finally reaping what it had sown." She added, "Preparations for a fruitful next year should not be a struggle to protect vested interests, but rather an effort to correct the prosecution's faults and mistakes to regain the trust of the public."
Internal criticism from frontline prosecutors toward the prosecution's leadership is also mounting. On the 1st, Jang Jin-young, chief prosecutor at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, posted an article titled 'Special Prosecutor Investigation, Prosecutorial Reform' on the internal network Epros, indirectly criticizing Minister Jeong by stating, "The only prosecutor qualified to be dispatched to the special prosecutor investigation is Chief Prosecutor Eun-jung Lim."
Jang further remarked, "Honorable Minister, please promptly expel the core group of dispatched prosecutors—the axis of evil—from the Prosecutors' Office facing abolition, so that they may atone by swiftly handling urgent civil cases on the brink of collapse, and take strong measures to prevent them from further tarnishing the sanctity of special prosecutor investigations."
Jung Yu-mi, a research fellow (chief prosecutor) at the Legal Research and Training Institute, also criticized the prosecution's leadership, stating, "I believe those currently in leadership positions who are responsible should be held accountable."
All dispatched prosecutors from the Kim Keon Hee Special Prosecutor Team (led by Min Joong-ki) requested to return to their original posts on the 30th of last month, expressing confusion: "With the loss of direct investigation authority for major crimes, we are unsure if it is appropriate for the special prosecutor to handle investigation, indictment, and prosecution."

kyu0705@fnnews.com Kim Dong-gyu Reporter