Attorney Jeong Yuri: Separating Investigations and Prosecution
Lawyer Urges Stability in South Korean Judicial Reform, Cautions Against Hasty Changes
Table of Contents
- Lawyer Urges Stability in South Korean Judicial Reform, Cautions Against Hasty Changes
- Concerns Over Investigation and Prosecution Separation
- High-Ranking Officials Crime Investigation Agency
- Q&A on Judicial Reform
- Democratic Party’s Stance on Prosecution Reform
- Arguments for Separation of Investigation and Prosecution
- Addressing Concerns of Misuse of Power
- Solving Politicalization of the Prosecution
- Changes in the Field
- Overlooked at the Time of Investigation
- Strengthening Function and Abolition of the People
- what the Next Government Should and Shouldn’t Do
- What Should and Shouldn’t Be Done Ahead of the Presidential election
- About Jeong Yuri
- Jeong Yuri on Prosecution Reform: Concerns and Considerations
- High-Ranking Officials Crime Investigation Agency
- Q&A on judicial Reform
- Democratic Party’s stance on Prosecution Reform
- Arguments for Separation of Investigation and Prosecution
- Addressing Concerns of Misuse of Power
- Solving Politicalization of the Prosecution
- Changes in the Field
- Overlooked at the Time of Investigation
- strengthening Function and Abolition of the People
- what the Next Government Should and Shouldn’t Do
- What should and Shouldn’t Be Done Ahead of the Presidential election
- About jeong Yuri
SEOUL – A prominent South Korean attorney is advocating for a measured approach to judicial reform, urging the incoming government to prioritize the effective operation of existing systems rather than implementing sweeping changes.
Jeong Yuri, a lawyer with 17 years of experience as a prosecutor, expressed her concerns in an interview conducted May 2 in Seoul. She emphasized the need for collaboration and mutual respect among the prosecution, police, and the recently established High-Ranking Public Officials Crime investigation Agency (karate).
Concerns Over Investigation and Prosecution Separation
Chung voiced apprehension regarding the ongoing debate surrounding the separation of investigative and prosecutorial powers. “Separating investigation and prosecution could lead to unintended negative consequences, perhaps increasing the burden on the public,” she stated.
She pointed to delays and unclear lines of responsibility following previous adjustments to investigative rights under the moon Jae-in governance. “My concern was that the delay and the responsibility of investigation was unknown at the time of the investigation right adjustment. I think that concern was realized,” Chung said.
High-Ranking Officials Crime Investigation Agency
While acknowledging the necessity of the High-Ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Agency, which has been operational for four years, Chung stressed the importance of addressing existing shortcomings. ”It is necesary to supplement various problems that occur in the settlement process,” she said.
Q&A on Judicial Reform
Democratic Party‘s Stance on Prosecution Reform
Q: The Democratic Party is emphasizing the prosecution and prosecution of the Democratic Party ahead of the June 3 presidential election.
A: Investigation and prosecution should be careful. it looks easy, but in reality, inefficiency is generated, and it is tough to investigate or punish the case properly. if the investigator is prosecuted, it will be responsible for the case, but when it is indeed separated, the responsibility is unclear. It is indeed hard to want a person who has not investigated the case in depth. After all, it can lead to a situation that is prosecuted without accurate understanding.
What do you do if you think that the investigation needs to be supplemented on the side with the right to prosecution? If you investigate again, there is also a problem delay and inefficiency. The prosecution has developed a professional investigation capacity such as tax and securities. If the right to investigate disappears, who will be responsible for the case in the specialized field. the capacity to respond to the state’s crime is inevitably weakened.
Arguments for Separation of Investigation and Prosecution
Q: The side, which emphasizes the investigation and the separation of prosecution, claims that the changed system will take time.
A: If the investigation and the prosecution are separated, the investigation is distributed and the responsibility materials become unclear. If inefficiency occurs, such as delayed incidents, the damage eventually returns to the people. It is necessary to prevent the preferred system to prevent the people from avoiding it.
Obviously there will be a number of problems, and it’s hard to understand why you want to change the system with such a burden. Just as the investigation is delayed by the reconciliation of the case, the delay in the case is realized and the national pain is expected to have a large side effect.Rather than political logic, we should carefully review the people’s side.
Addressing Concerns of Misuse of Power
Q: The opposition point points out the prosecution’s misuse and politics, such as the prosecution’s ‘wrapping up your family’ for the need for prosecution reform.
A: If the prosecution’s ‘wrapping up your family’ is a problem, the police may also have a problem with ’wrapping up your family’.It is not a matter of the prosecution, but a matter of focus on one institution. If you deprive the prosecution’s right to investigate, it will eventually increase the power to the police and the police will not be controlled.
The police and the prosecution cooperate with the investigation right to maintain a critical tension,so that the basic rights of the people are guaranteed.If the prosecution is concerned about the politicalization of the prosecution, it is necessary to compensate for other institutional devices to prevent it. It is not desirable for a number of ordinary people to suffer damage because of a small number of political events.
Solving Politicalization of the Prosecution
Q: How can the prosecution’s politicalization of the prosecution solve?
A: There were events that looked politically from the people’s point of view. People who have power in the general public may not be able to investigate and be punished when the power disappears.Of course, I don’t think that individual prosecutors have made that decision because they are political.I believe that it would have been judged according to the evidence or law. But if the people are political,they have not convinced the people. The misunderstanding is needed to try to persuade more.
Changes in the Field
Q: In the Moon Jae -in government, the prosecutor’s right was adjusted. What changes you feel in the field.
A: Delayed investigation and reduced the total amount of investigation by the prosecution. If the prosecution requires a complementary investigation of the case sent by the police after the investigation, the police often delay the complementary investigation or require a supplementary investigation several times. He started a lawyer in December 2023, and most of the incidents that were initially started, and have been in investigation, and some years have passed since the request for supplementary investigations and reinvestigation requests.
Overlooked at the Time of Investigation
Q: What do you think is overlooked at the time of investigation.
A: The most concerned at the time of investigation adjustment was that the delayed investigation and responsibility for investigation were unknown.I think that concern has become a reality. The most unfortunate thing is to weaken the authority of the prosecution’s special investigation, which is an extremely part of the prosecution, and weakened the authority to handle the criminal case of the general public who occupy most of the criminal case.
the damage is returning to the people. as the investigation is delayed, the general public will have no strength to endure and eventually give up legal rights. While the investigation is delayed, the evidence disappears, and the vicious cycle is repeated that only the wrong criminals can escape.
Strengthening Function and Abolition of the People
Q: The Democratic Party insists on strengthening its function and the abolition of the people.
A: At the time of the establishment of the airspace, it was a pilot case of investigation and prosecution separation. But the problem was not revealed in the emergency rhetoric investigation. If the airspace has investigated, it is necessary to be responsible for prosecution, but the investigation and prosecution are divided, so they use energy that you don’t need to use.
There is no perfect system. If the state has gathered the intentions of the people and chose the system, it should be empowered to operate the system most effectively. As the airspace has already been made and operated for four years, I agree with the necessity.However, it is necessary to compensate for the various problems that occurred during the settlement process. I would like to replenish the workforce and adjust the scope of the investigation reasonably to make good use of the establishment.
what the Next Government Should and Shouldn’t Do
Q: What do the next government should not do it and what this must be?
A: The next government should consider how to ‘operate’ the system that does not change the system that has been settled over a long time in the judicial reform process.
Above all, the prosecution, the police, and the airspace should stop criticism and find a way for each institution to fulfill their role and cooperate. It is necessary to complement the system and to prevent the delay in investigation so that the people can be densely protected.When I worked as a prosecutor, I worked hard every day and looked at the parties.The prosecution and the police members will be no different. I hope they will create an atmosphere that can do better so that they can focus on guaranteeing human rights.
What Should and Shouldn’t Be Done Ahead of the Presidential election
Q: What do you think ‘what should be done’ and ‘what you should not do’ ahead of the presidential election?
A: The majority party ‘should not’ is impeachment against judicial institutions. Judges and prosecutors are those who are authorized by the law and perform their duties. If their judicial decision is impeached, the authority of the judiciary collapses and eventually leads to the disbelief of the judiciary of the people. If politicians try to exercise their influence on the judiciary according to their interests, they may have the idea that the general public is discriminated against even in the judicial areas that should be fair.
It is indeed time to stop criticism of the investigative agency and think about how to do well. In contrast, the prosecution and the police are trying to cooperate in the field, but they also tend to be hostile as they criticize in politics. I hope that the political party will think about the direction of raising the morale so that it can respond to crimes while cooperating.
About Jeong Yuri
Jeong Yuri was born in Yeongcheon,Gyeongbuk in 1979,he graduated from Seoul National University. In 2002, he passed the 44th Judicial Examination and completed the Judicial Research and Training Institute 35. Starting with the Busan Prosecutor’s Office, he served as the Daegu Prosecutor’s Office, the Seoul East Prosecutor’s Office, and Suwon Prosecutor’s Office. Since 2023, he has been a partner lawyer in the continent. Major business areas are taxes, criminals, and blockchain.
Jeong Yuri on Prosecution Reform: Concerns and Considerations
Jeong Yuri, a partner lawyer at the continent law firm, shared her perspective on the ongoing debate surrounding the separation of investigative and prosecutorial powers. “Separating investigation and prosecution could lead to unintended negative consequences, perhaps increasing the burden on the public,” she stated.
She pointed to delays and unclear lines of responsibility following previous adjustments to investigative rights under the Moon Jae-in governance. “My concern was that the delay and the responsibility of investigation was unknown at the time of the investigation right adjustment. I think that concern was realized,” chung said.
High-Ranking Officials Crime Investigation Agency
While acknowledging the necessity of the High-Ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Agency, which has been operational for four years, Chung stressed the importance of addressing existing shortcomings. “It is necesary to supplement various problems that occur in the settlement process,” she said.
Q&A on judicial Reform
Democratic Party’s stance on Prosecution Reform
Q: The Democratic Party is emphasizing the prosecution and prosecution of the Democratic Party ahead of the June 3 presidential election.
A: Investigation and prosecution shoudl be careful. it looks easy, but in reality, inefficiency is generated, and it is indeed tough to investigate or punish the case properly. if the investigator is prosecuted, it will be responsible for the case, but when it is indeed indeed separated, the responsibility is unclear.It is indeed hard to want a person who has not investigated the case in depth. After all, it can lead to a situation that is prosecuted without accurate understanding.
What do you do if you think that the investigation needs to be supplemented on the side with the right to prosecution? If you investigate again, there is also a problem delay and inefficiency. The prosecution has developed a professional investigation capacity such as tax and securities. If the right to investigate disappears, who will be responsible for the case in the specialized field.the capacity to respond to the state’s crime is inevitably weakened.
Arguments for Separation of Investigation and Prosecution
Q: The side, which emphasizes the investigation and the separation of prosecution, claims that the changed system will take time.
A: If the investigation and the prosecution are separated,the investigation is distributed and the responsibility materials become unclear.If inefficiency occurs, such as delayed incidents, the damage eventually returns to the people. It is indeed necessary to prevent the preferred system to prevent the people from avoiding it.
Obviously there will be a number of problems, and it’s hard to understand why you want to change the system with such a burden. Just as the investigation is delayed by the reconciliation of the case, the delay in the case is realized and the national pain is expected to have a large side effect.Rather than political logic, we should carefully review the people’s side.
Addressing Concerns of Misuse of Power
Q: The opposition point points out the prosecution’s misuse and politics, such as the prosecution’s ‘wrapping up yoru family’ for the need for prosecution reform.
A: If the prosecution’s ‘wrapping up your family’ is a problem, the police may also have a problem with ‘wrapping up your family’.It is indeed not a matter of the prosecution, but a matter of focus on one institution. If you deprive the prosecution’s right to investigate, it will eventually increase the power to the police and the police will not be controlled.
The police and the prosecution cooperate with the investigation right to maintain a critical tension,so that the basic rights of the people are guaranteed.If the prosecution is concerned about the politicalization of the prosecution, it is indeed necessary to compensate for other institutional devices to prevent it. It is not desirable for a number of ordinary people to suffer damage because of a small number of political events.
Solving Politicalization of the Prosecution
Q: How can the prosecution’s politicalization of the prosecution solve?
A: There were events that looked politically from the people’s point of view.People who have power in the general public may not be able to investigate and be punished when the power disappears.Of course, I don’t think that individual prosecutors have made that decision because they are political.I beleive that it would have been judged according to the evidence or law.But if the people are political,they have not convinced the people. The misunderstanding is needed to try to persuade more.
Changes in the Field
Q: In the Moon Jae -in government, the prosecutor’s right was adjusted. What changes you feel in the field.
A: Delayed investigation and reduced the total amount of investigation by the prosecution. If the prosecution requires a complementary investigation of the case sent by the police after the investigation, the police often delay the complementary investigation or require a supplementary investigation several times. He started a lawyer in december 2023, and most of the incidents that were initially started, and have been in investigation, and some years have passed as the request for supplementary investigations and reinvestigation requests.
Overlooked at the Time of Investigation
Q: What do you think is overlooked at the time of investigation.
A: the most concerned at the time of investigation adjustment was that the delayed investigation and responsibility for investigation were unknown.I think that concern has become a reality. The most unfortunate thing is to weaken the authority of the prosecution’s special investigation, which is an extremely part of the prosecution, and weakened the authority to handle the criminal case of the general public who occupy most of the criminal case.
the damage is returning to the people. as the investigation is delayed,the general public will have no strength to endure and eventually give up legal rights. While the investigation is delayed,the evidence disappears,and the vicious cycle is repeated that only the wrong criminals can escape.
strengthening Function and Abolition of the People
Q: the Democratic Party insists on strengthening its function and the abolition of the people.
A: At the time of the establishment of the airspace, it was a pilot case of investigation and prosecution separation. But the problem was not revealed in the emergency rhetoric investigation.If the airspace has investigated, it is necessary to be responsible for prosecution, but the investigation and prosecution are divided, so they use energy that you don’t need to use.
There is no perfect system. If the state has gathered the intentions of the people and chose the system, it should be empowered to operate the system most effectively. As the airspace has already been made and operated for four years, I agree with the necessity.However,it is necessary to compensate for the various problems that occurred during the settlement process. I would like to replenish the workforce and adjust the scope of the investigation reasonably to make good use of the establishment.
what the Next Government Should and Shouldn’t Do
Q: What do the next government should not do it and what this must be?
A: The next government should consider how to ‘operate’ the system that does not change the system that has been settled over a long time in the judicial reform process.
Above all, the prosecution, the police, and the airspace should stop criticism and find a way for each institution to fulfill their role and cooperate. It is indeed necessary to complement the system and to prevent the delay in investigation so that the people can be densely protected.When I worked as a prosecutor, I worked hard every day and looked at the parties.The prosecution and the police members will be no different.I hope they will create an atmosphere that can do better so that they can focus on guaranteeing human rights.
What should and Shouldn’t Be Done Ahead of the Presidential election
Q: What do you think ‘what should be done’ and ‘what you should not do’ ahead of the presidential election?
A: The majority party ‘should not’ is impeachment against judicial institutions. Judges and prosecutors are those who are authorized by the law and perform their duties. If their judicial decision is impeached, the authority of the judiciary collapses and eventually leads to the disbelief of the judiciary of the people. If politicians try to exercise their influence on the judiciary according to their interests, they may have the idea that the general public is discriminated against even in the judicial areas that should be fair.
It is indeed time to stop criticism of the investigative agency and think about how to do well. In contrast, the prosecution and the police are trying to cooperate in the field, but they also tend to be opposed as they criticize in politics. I hope that the political party will think about the direction of raising the morale so that it can respond to crimes while cooperating.
About jeong Yuri
Jeong Yuri was born in Yeongcheon,Gyeongbuk in 1979,he graduated from seoul National University. In 2002, he passed the 44th Judicial Examination and completed the Judicial Research and Training Institute 35. Starting with the Busan Prosecutor’s Office, he served as the Daegu Prosecutor’s office, the Seoul East Prosecutor’s Office, and Suwon Prosecutor’s Office. Since 2023, he has been a partner lawyer in the continent. Major business areas are taxes, criminals, and blockchain.