Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho: "Absurd conspiracy theories are turning prosecutorial reform into a futile debate"

[Financial News] Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho wrote on his Facebook page on the 11th, criticizing that "because of the absurd conspiracy theories that have recently been raised, the discussion on prosecutorial reform, which should be deliberated seriously, is being dragged into a futile controversy."
Jeong stated, "I have never told prosecutors to drop the indictment in relation to any specific case, nor have I ever delivered any message or text in connection with supplementary investigation powers."
Earlier the same day, on Kim Ou-joon's YouTube channel, an alleged "deal over dropping the indictment" involving President Lee Jae-myung was mentioned. The suspicion raised was that prosecutors had agreed to drop the President's indictment in exchange for watering down the intensity of prosecutorial reform. After the broadcast, Jeong also dismissed the allegation in a media interview, saying, "The claim that I mentioned dropping the President's indictment on the condition of easing the prosecutorial reform plan is absurd. I am in no position to make such a deal, and I have no reason to do so."
In the same vein, he stressed in his Facebook post, "Since I took office as minister, I have consistently told prosecutors only this: 'Reflect on why the prosecution has lost the trust of the people and change,' and 'Do not be shaken by the reform process; instead, each of you should do your original duties to the best of your ability.'"
He went on, "For prosecutorial reform under a government based on popular sovereignty, the only standards are 'the safety of the people from crime' and 'stability in people’s livelihoods.'" He added, "Our goal is solely to shape a prosecution service that is faithful to its role of protecting the human rights of the people. There will be no deals with any group or force whatsoever."
He continued, "It is regrettable that, simply because they disagree, some are putting forward highly inappropriate claims of conspiracy theories about prosecutorial reform, which should be a subject of deliberation for the entire nation, and are plunging the public sphere—where rational debate should take place—into division and conflict." He concluded, "Prosecutorial reform will proceed without wavering, and the Ministry of Justice will faithfully carry out its assigned duties."

hwlee@fnnews.com Lee Hwan-ju Reporter