Global Economic Times

Prosecutor General Im Eun-jung Warns, "If There's No Prosecutorial Reform, It Will Be Replaced by Reforms at the Level of Dismantling": Hwang Sujin Reporter / Updated : 2025-07-04 18:21:56

Newly appointed Prosecutors General, designated through the first prosecutorial appointments of the Lee Jae-myung administration, held their inauguration ceremonies on July 4th, uniformly emphasizing the importance of prosecutorial reform and internal introspection. Notably, the strong warning from Im Eun-jung, the new Prosecutor General of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, drew significant attention as she stated that if the prosecution does not demonstrate self-correcting capabilities, it will face reforms tantamount to dismantling.

Prosecutor General Im Eun-jung: "Prosecution on the Operating Table, Must Acknowledge Favoritism in Investigations"

Im Eun-jung, who was promoted to Prosecutor General in this appointment, arrived for her first day at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office in Songpa-gu, Seoul, likening the current state of the prosecution to being "on the operating table." She stated, "If we don't show a changed appearance, I believe we will face reforms close to dismantling," and emphasized that the prosecution must accept criticism for its past "favoritism in investigations" and "lies."

During the inauguration ceremony, she urged in an even more direct tone, "Let us acknowledge the targeted investigations, selective investigations, covering up for our own, and favoritism in investigations that the public has witnessed for years." She also criticized the past behavior of the prosecution, stating, "When defending prosecutorial power, we did not hesitate to take collective action and remained silent about prosecutorial misconduct." She further stressed, "Instead of raising our voices to protect prosecutorial power, let us raise our voices and act to regain public trust." This is interpreted as a strong message to discard the prosecution's internal attitude of protecting vested interests and to seek change from the public's perspective.

Prosecutor General Im has been evaluated within the prosecution as an "unconventional figure" and an "internal whistleblower." Her promotion to Prosecutor General and appointment as District Prosecutor General are widely seen as symbolic of the Lee Jae-myung administration's determination for prosecutorial reform. Her remarks are read as a warning against internal resistance during the reform process and as pressure, indicating that if the prosecution does not change on its own, it cannot avoid intense reforms from the outside.

Prosecutors General Kim Tae-hoon and Jeong Jin-woo Also Unanimously Emphasize "Restoring Public Trust"

Kim Tae-hoon, the new Prosecutor General of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, also emphasized the need for the prosecution to reflect on its stance during his inauguration ceremony. Prosecutor General Kim stated, "To regain public trust, it is necessary to reflect and introspect, and to be faithful to the prosecution's inherent role." He added, "The most painful part is the criticism that we have lost the trust of the public as a fair institution." He ordered focusing resources on crimes that infringe on people's livelihoods and target the socially vulnerable, and to respond sternly, emphasizing the need to be faithful to the prosecution's inherent role for the public.

Jeong Jin-woo, the new Prosecutor General of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, also urged the prosecution to change itself during his inauguration ceremony that morning. Prosecutor General Jeong stated, "We must honestly reflect on our exercise of prosecutorial power, which has been the starting point of reform discussions, and correct what is wrong." He added, "We must accurately explain and seek understanding from the public about the principles we must uphold and what we must do." Particularly, as the head of the largest prosecution office in the country and an institution that investigates major political cases and cases that draw public attention, Prosecutor General Jeong's remarks carry even greater weight.

The common keywords revealed in the inauguration speeches of the three new Prosecutors General are "restoring public trust" and "internal introspection." This is interpreted as an acknowledgment that the prosecution has faced public criticism and distrust due to past accusations of undermining political neutrality, selective investigations, and covering up for its own. As these individuals, appointed to key positions through the Lee Jae-myung administration's first prosecutorial appointments, have expressed their determination to lead prosecutorial reform, the future changes within the prosecution and the progress of the reform process are drawing attention. It remains to be seen whether the prosecution can regain public trust through self-correcting efforts and be reborn with a new image.