Han Dong-hoon

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon announced on the 22nd that the Ministry of Justice will review the records related to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Inspection Committee's decision that it could not discipline the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office prosecutors for their collective walkout.

During a plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the same day, Minister Han said, "We must respect the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's opinion, but it is not entirely binding."

He added, "We are taking the situation seriously and reviewing various countermeasures. Since the entire record can be transferred to the Ministry of Justice, we will review it and make a comprehensive judgment."

Kim Yong-min, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, stated that with the revision of the Prosecutors' Disciplinary Act, not only the Prosecutor General but also the Minister of Justice can request disciplinary action against prosecutors, and urged, "We hope you will actively exercise the authority you can directly exercise."

In response, Minister Han said, "That's why we are intending to review the relevant records at the Ministry of Justice."

It is known that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Inspection Committee recently held a closed-door meeting and concluded that it would be difficult to discipline the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office prosecutors who collectively walked out.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Inspection Committee consists of five to nine members, including the chairperson and vice-chairperson. Among them are external members appointed by the Prosecutor General.

The Inspection Committee deliberates on major inspection matters, including misconduct by Prosecutors' Office employees, presents the results to the Prosecutor General, and recommends necessary measures.

However, separate from the Inspection Committee's decision, the Prosecutor General can request disciplinary action if deemed necessary. If the Prosecutor General requests disciplinary action, the Prosecutors' Disciplinary Committee under the Ministry of Justice deliberates and determines the final disciplinary level.

Regarding the composition of the Inspection Committee, Minister Han said, "I understand it was formed during the previous administration."

Earlier, on November 25 last year, four prosecutors from the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, after their request for the prosecution's witness application was rejected during a preparatory hearing for the 'false testimony allegations in the drinking party case' of former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young, presided over by Judge Song Byung-hoon of the Criminal Division 11 of the Suwon District Court, stated, "We cannot comply with unfair litigation management," and expressed their intention to recuse the judge before all of them walked out.

The following day, the 26th, President Lee Jae-myung ordered a thorough inspection and investigation, calling it an insult to the judiciary. Subsequently, at the direction of Minister Han, a related inspection was conducted by the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office.