President Lee Orders Revisions to Prosecution Service Organization Plan...Points Out 'Prosecutor Quota and Department Names'

Review of Ministry of Justice’s Organizational and Staffing Plan after Return from Overseas Trip
“No Need to Be Bound by the Prosecutor Quota Act... Revisions Needed”
“Judicial Supervision Division Name Misaligned with Intended Purpose,” President Lee Points Out

President Lee Jae-myung has ordered the Ministry of Justice to revise its proposed organizational and staffing plan for the soon-to-be-launched Prosecution Service. He determined that maintaining the current number of prosecutors, as well as naming a department that reviews police non-prosecution cases as the “Judicial Supervision Division,” do not align with the spirit of prosecutorial reform.

President Jae-myung Lee and First Lady Hye-kyung Kim are departing from Seoul Airport in Seongnam after completing a state visit to France on the 10th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

It has been reported that on September 10, after returning from a state visit to France, President Lee instructed modifications and improvements to the “Prosecution Service and Affiliated Agencies Organization Act” and the “Enforcement Decree of the Prosecutor Quota Act” at the presidential office.

According to presidential office officials, during this session, President Lee expressed that the government should have thoroughly reviewed the number of prosecutors, the organizational structure, and department names, but failed to do so.

Under the government’s plan regarding staffing, the Prosecution Service would comprise 2,292 prosecutors and 6,120 administrative employees, totaling 8,412 personnel. Although this represents a reduction of about 20% from the current headcount, the number of prosecutors would remain unchanged. This has sparked backlash among the ruling bloc, questioning the rationale for maintaining the current number of prosecutors.

President Lee also reportedly commented, “There is no need to be bound by the existing Prosecutor Quota Act; we should simply deploy as many personnel as are genuinely necessary,” signaling the need for revisions.

In addition, President Lee pointed out that it was inappropriate to designate the department reviewing police non-prosecution cases as the “Judicial Supervision Division.” He indicated that the name does not match the purpose of case review and that, given its controversial nature, there was no need to attract unnecessary attention. He determined that the government had not properly scrutinized this issue.

In accordance with President Lee’s instructions for modifications and improvements, the Ministry of Justice is expected to soon begin a renewed review of its plan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.