The Committee for the Future Respecting Human Rights in Prosecutorial Investigations (Prosecutorial Future Committee) of the Ministry of Justice [Provided by the Ministry of Justice]

The Committee for the Future Respecting Human Rights in Prosecutorial Investigations (Prosecutorial Future Committee) of the Ministry of Justice, tasked with reviewing cases of human rights violations that occurred during prosecutorial investigations, began its activities on the 10th.

The Ministry of Justice announced on this day that it had launched the Prosecutorial Future Committee and presented letters of appointment to its seven members, including Chairperson Jang Ju-young, a lawyer at Neulpuren Law Offices.

The Prosecutorial Future Committee will independently select cases of alleged human rights violations or abuse of prosecutorial power, investigate the facts through the findings of investigative bodies, and recommend measures for prevention and victim recovery.

Immediately after the inauguration ceremony on the same day, the Prosecutorial Future Committee held its first meeting and selected seven cases for initial investigation: ▲ the Ssangbangul North Korea remittance case ▲ the Daejang-dong case ▲ the case of former Democratic Research Institute Vice President Kim Yong ▲ the Wirye New Town case ▲ the case of the public official shot in the West Sea ▲ the statistics manipulation case ▲ the false reporting allegations case concerning defamation of Yoon Suk-yeol. The committee recommended investigations into these cases.

Three of the seven cases are related to President Lee Jae-myung.

The Prosecutorial Future Committee also requested Minister of Justice Jeong Sung-ho to establish an independent investigative body within the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. The committee plans to investigate the facts through this body.

Separately, discussions will continue on the selection of additional cases for investigation.

According to the regulations of the Prosecutorial Future Committee, investigative cases can be selected not only from those subject to parliamentary inquiry into fabricated indictments but also from 'cases where human rights violations or abuse of prosecutorial power are alleged' and 'cases proposed by the public as having such allegations'.

 [Yonhap News Archive Photo]

The members of the Prosecutorial Future Committee include Chairperson Jang Ju-young, lawyer Kim Jin-soo of Yegeang Law Firm, Professor Kim Hye-kyung of Keimyung University's Department of Police Administration, Professor Oh Byung-doo of Hongik University's Law School, Oh Chang-ik, Secretary-General of the Center for Peace and Human Rights, lawyer Lee Dong-yeon, CEO of Leejak Law Firm, and Hwang Sun-ki, Human Rights Committee member of the Korean Bar Association.

The Ministry of Justice explained that the committee was formed with individuals possessing extensive knowledge, experience, and expertise in prosecutorial affairs.

Minister Jeong told the committee members, "To move towards a better future, the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution must first identify past wrongdoings, uncover the truth, and genuinely reflect on them," adding, "The Ministry of Justice will do its utmost to ensure the committee can operate with independence and neutrality."

In his opening remarks, Chairperson Jang stated, "The committee will investigate the facts based on evidence and truth, and disclose the investigation results to the public as they are," and "We will also establish measures to prevent similar abuses of prosecutorial power from recurring."

President Lee Jae-myung speaks at a press conference marking his first anniversary in office at the Blue House Guest House on the 8th. [Yonhap News] 

There is a view in the legal community that the movement to withdraw indictments will gain momentum with President Lee Jae-myung's endorsement of a special prosecutor for fabricated indictments, coupled with the launch of the Prosecutorial Future Committee.

This is because if the Prosecutorial Future Committee's findings indicate that there were problems with the prosecution's investigation into President Lee, it would build justification for withdrawing the indictment.

Earlier, President Lee mentioned the need for a special prosecutor for fabricated indictments at his first anniversary press conference on the 8th, stating, "If it was wrong, it should be withdrawn; if it was not wrong, it should be left as is."

He added, "In the past, the prosecution has had issues, but they did not engage in fabrication. However, at some point, they started to fabricate," and "The prosecution has crossed too many lines."