'Han Donghoon's Father-in-Law' Jin Hyeonggu, Former Chief of Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office, Dies at 81

A legal professional with a science and engineering background... held key posts in the prosecution service
His remark about "instigating the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation strike" paved the way for a special prosecutor system

Jin Hyeonggu, former chief of the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office, died on Nov. 15. He was 81. He was the father-in-law of independent Assemblyman Han Dong-hoon.

Jin Hyeonggu, former chief of the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office, Yonhap News Agency

Born in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, Jin graduated from Kyungbock High School and Seoul National University's Department of Electrical Engineering. After passing the 11th National Bar Examination, he completed the first class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He was appointed as a prosecutor and drew attention as a rare legal professional with a background in engineering. He held a range of key posts in the prosecution service, including head of the Investigation Division at the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office; director of the Legal Affairs Division at the Ministry of Justice; second deputy chief prosecutor at the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office; chief of the Western Branch; and head of the Trial and Litigation Department and the Inspection Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

After serving as head of the Public Security Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 1998, he was promoted to chief of the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office the following year. In June 1999, however, he became the focus of the so-called "Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation strike inducement case" after remarks at a luncheon with reporters that were understood to mean that the prosecution had prompted the company's 1998 strike. The incident sparked major public controversy and led to the introduction of the first special prosecutor system in the nation's constitutional history.

After retiring, he served as publisher of the monthly magazine China Life and took part in activities at organizations including Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea (Hanbyeon).

He is survived by his wife, Choi Youngok; his son, Donggyun, a former prosecutor; his daughters, Minjeong and Eunjeong, a lawyer; and his son-in-law, Assemblyman Han Dong-hoon. His wake is being held in Room 31 of the funeral hall at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, with visitors welcome from 2 p.m. on Nov. 16. The funeral procession will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 18.

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