Jeong Cheongrae: "Public Prosecution Service Reorganization Was Not President Lee's Will... Must Be Substantially Revised"

Assemblyman Chung Cheong-rae of the Democratic Party of Korea stated on September 14 that regarding the controversy over the proposed organizational reform of the Public Prosecution Office, "It was confirmed that this was not President Lee Jaemyung's intention."

Former Democratic Party Leader Chung Cheong-rae and former Minister of Justice Chung Sung-ho are seen conversing at the 439th regular plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Yonhap News

Appearing on the YouTube show "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory: Humility Is Hard" on the same day, Assemblyman Chung said, "I believe it is possible that the prosecution, which constantly seeks to maintain its vested interests, may have blindsided the president," expressing this opinion.

Assemblyman Chung referred to his experience coordinating the legislation to establish the Serious Crimes Investigation Office (SCI Office) and the Public Prosecution Office with President Lee, stating, "Considering the intention and meaning that were included in the original bill, there is no way President Lee would have known about and approved this organizational proposal." He went on to insist that the proposed organizational reform should be "substantially revised" to uphold the principle of separating investigation and prosecution functions between the Public Prosecution Office and the SCI Office.

He particularly took issue with the inclusion of certain Special Judicial Police (teuksagaeong) functions in the proposal. Assemblyman Chung noted, "There are about 18,000 Special Judicial Police officers. In the original plan, they were to be supported and managed by the prosecution," and added, "The president instructed that all those aspects should be removed." He then commented, "However, the current organizational reform for the Public Prosecution Office retained the Special Judicial Police, and even just this is an example showing that it was not in accordance with the president's intention."

He further criticized the inclusion of criminal intelligence gathering by the judiciary oversight division and the prosecution, scientific investigation functions, and the possibility of joint investigations. Assemblyman Chung said, "It's outrageous for prosecutors, who are supposed to be under judicial oversight, to use the name of the judiciary oversight division," and insisted, "All criminal intelligence gathering and scientific investigation functions that remain at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office should be eliminated." He also stated, "I hope the provision allowing the prosecution to intervene in investigations under the name of joint investigation will also be removed."

Assemblyman Chung claimed that there was also a lack of communication with the political affairs team during the process of reforming the organization. He said, "The Public Prosecution Office and the SCI Office are under the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, not under the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs," and added, "Normally, because there are political considerations as well, it should have been discussed with or consulted with the senior secretary for political affairs, but it seems that did not happen."

He continued, "As a result of my inquiry, it appears that the political affairs team was unaware of this," adding, "Just as the president himself did not know the details or expect this to happen, it seems the political affairs team was also unaware."

Regarding the appointment of the first head of the SCI Office, Assemblyman Chung emphasized that it should align with the foundation for prosecution reform. He said, "Is it really appropriate for someone who has opposed the separation of investigation and prosecution, and prosecution reform, to become the head of the SCI Office?" He concluded, "Careful consideration is needed on this point as well."

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