Ministry of Justice's Promotion of Prosecutors' Investigation Rights Deemed Inappropriate

The Ministry of Justice's recent campaign on its official YouTube channel, advocating for the retention of prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights, is a deeply inappropriate and concerning development. While previously the prosecution might have engaged in subtle media manipulation by providing 'success stories' to select news outlets, this direct, official appeal to the public represents a significant escalation. It suggests a predetermined conclusion, bypassing the crucial process of gathering and considering public opinion, especially when the legislative amendment is already postponed until after the June local elections.

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It was made possible by supplementary investigation, a second chance to get closer to the truth.

Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho's own public statements, praising the supplementary investigation in a recent assault case as the reason for the perpetrators' arrest, further illustrate this point. While the article acknowledges the arrest, it rightly questions whether the prosecution's supplementary investigation was the sole or even primary factor. The persistent efforts of the victims' families and the public outcry, amplified by media coverage, likely played a significant role in the court's decision. It raises suspicions about whether the prosecution's actions were a genuine effort or a reactive measure taken only after public attention intensified, especially considering the police's initial arrest warrants were twice rejected.

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It is questionable whether the reason for the perpetrators' arrest seven months after the incident can be explained solely by the prosecution's supplementary investigation.

Furthermore, the ministry's silence on the significant revisions to the bill establishing a public prosecutors' office—revisions that largely removed provisions aimed at maintaining or strengthening prosecutorial power—is telling. They have offered no explanation for the initial inclusion of these controversial clauses or their subsequent removal. Instead, the narrative promoted by the ministry and prosecution seems to be one that implicitly or explicitly portrays the police as incompetent. This is met with criticism from the police, who feel their contributions are being misrepresented as solely the result of prosecutorial intervention. Such tactics, which involve denigrating another government agency to preserve one's own authority, are far removed from the rational deliberation and public discourse necessary for sound policymaking. This approach undermines the very principles of inter-agency cooperation and public trust.

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The police criticize the prosecution's media play as excessive, with even achievements made through cooperation with prosecutors being misrepresented as supplementary investigation success stories.