Nominee opposed to prosecution reform
Mun Moo-il, the nominee for the nation’s top prosecutor, expressed opposition to President Moon Jae-in’s sweeping reform plan for the prosecution, ahead of his confirmation hearing today at the National Assembly.
Mun, who was named as the next prosecutor general early this month, vowed not to give up the prosecution’s investigative powers, saying “prosecutors cannot indict suspects without investigations just like judges cannot deliver judgments without trials.”
He also voiced an objection to President Moon’s idea of establishing an independent body to investigate and indict high-ranking government officials, including prosecutors.
In a written reply he submitted to the parliament, Mun de facto refused to cooperate with Cheong Wa Dae, which believes the prosecution won’t be able to regain public trust without major reform.
His comments are already drawing extensive criticism online as he promised to fight against — not for — the reform, which was one of the key promises in the Moon government’s five-year plan.
“In most developed countries, prosecutors have the right to investigate and indict suspects,” Mun said. “The issue should not be about how to divide powers but about which system is better to protect the people and the country from crimes.”
He also claimed that the idea of making another institution which can investigate and indict suspects can be viewed as unconstitutional because it may violate the people’s basic rights.
Mun noted what is important is to create an environment where prosecutors can do their job independently without being swayed by politics.
Over the years, the prosecution has been criticized for abusing its power and being political in doing its work, which has provoked public outrage against the institution.
Korean prosecutors exercise boundless discretion in making crucial decisions, including how to investigate cases themselves or by directing police, whether criminal charges should be filed and what the charges should be, without having their powers checked.
President Moon said keeping checks on the prosecutors and the police is possible by allowing police officers to have more — or exclusive — investigative powers while prosecutors retain the power to indict suspects.