On the 21st, newly appointed Minister Jeong Seong-ho said at the inauguration ceremony, "We must resolve the issue of separating investigative and prosecutorial powers and put an end to the unproductive debates surrounding prosecutorial reform," adding, "The prosecution must be reborn as a 'human rights prosecution' that protects the people and earns the trust of the people."
Minister Jeong noted during the inauguration ceremony held at the Ministry of Justice building in Gwacheon at 11 a.m. that, "Let us complete the 'prosecutorial reform that meets the people's standards.'"
Minister Jeong stated, "As the inaugural Minister of Justice for the new government, I have been entrusted with the grave responsibility of opening the door to an era of popular sovereignty," adding, "We are currently facing a critical historical turning point and chaos in the reorganization of the international order, and our society is confronted with pressing historical challenges, including the restoration of democracy and the rule of law, normalization of power institutions, stabilization of livelihoods and economic recovery, low birth rates and aging populations, and issues of local extinction."
Minister Jeong presented 'prosecutorial reform' as a key task of the Ministry of Justice, stating, "The issue of separating investigative and prosecutorial powers must now be resolved, putting an end to the unproductive debates surrounding prosecutorial reform." He urged a cold reflection on whether there have been citizens who felt wronged due to wrongful investigations or prosecutions, whether prosecutorial authority was exercised cautiously, and whether the prosecutorial authority was not abused, asserting that the prosecution must be reborn as a 'human rights protection agency.' He added, "Investigations aimed at prosecution and unreasonable maintenance of charges for the rationalization of investigations must disappear, and as a representative of the public with objective obligations, if there are illegal human rights violations during the investigation or prosecution process, strict accountability must be ensured."
Minister Jeong further stated, "At the center of reform must always be the 'people,' and we must meticulously design the system to ensure that no blind spots for crime response arise during the adjustment of the prosecution's functions and that there are no adverse effects like inadequate investigations or delays." He emphasized, "In particular, we must seek ways to utilize the national investigative agencies' crime response capabilities effectively as assets for the people without undermining them."
He continued, "In the future, the Ministry of Justice, as the responsible government ministry, will actively and proactively prepare measures for 'prosecutorial reform for the people' and actively express opinions to the National Assembly," adding, "We must work together to ensure that the prosecution can be reborn as a 'human rights prosecution' that protects the people and earns their trust."
However, Minister Jeong emphasized that investigations and prosecutions concerning crimes infringing on people's livelihoods must not be sidelined for any reason, stating, "Let's review if there are any cases of livelihood infringement piling up on my desk and speed up our efforts." He mentioned, "In particular, drugs have already infiltrated deeply into the daily lives of the people and expose our children to danger," stressing, "We must completely eradicate the entire process of drug production, distribution, and consumption to restore the status of a 'drug-free nation.'"
He further stated, "We must eradicate livelihood infringement crimes targeting the public, such as voice phishing, illegal online gambling, jeonse fraud, and illegal private financing," and asserted, "Digital sexual crimes and voice phishing, which are rapidly becoming organized and internationalized, must be eradicated through strong enforcement and investigation."
Minister Jeong also noted, "We must contribute to building a trust society," urging a more proactive response to crimes that undermine community trust, such as stock manipulation that disrupts the economic order and the spread of fake news and malicious misinformation that divide the people."
Additionally, Minister Jeong remarked, "What we should aim for is the spirit of 'suppressing the strong and supporting the weak' and 'breaking the evil and revealing the righteous,'" urging all to pay attention to the difficulties of the weak, boldly correct past mistakes, and work together to realize social justice, stating, "We will move toward the goal of a safe country from crime, innovative legal administration serving the people, prosecutorial reform, and legal administration supporting the stabilization of livelihoods and the economy."