▲ Newly appointed prosecutors pose for a group photo during the appointment ceremony held at the Ministry of Justice in the Government Complex-Gwacheon on the 3rd.
"I solemnly swear on my honor to serve the people and the country with all my heart and utmost dedication from beginning to end." This morning (the 3rd), 19 newly appointed prosecutors read their oath with determined expressions at the Government Complex-Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province.
The Ministry of Justice held the appointment ceremony for 19 individuals who passed the 12th bar examination and completed their military service as legal officers.
Under the legislation establishing the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Prosecution Service, the Prosecutors' Office is scheduled to be abolished in October.
Although today's appointment ceremony was the last of its kind to be held under the Prosecutors' Office, the atmosphere was largely no different from previous events.
Family members personally helped the new prosecutors put on their judicial robes and offered congratulatory remarks.
One middle-aged woman was spotted patting her son on the back and tearing up as she told him, "You've worked hard so far."
Minister of Justice Chung Sung-ho, who attended today's event, told the new prosecutors, "The fundamental role of prosecutors in protecting the public from crime will never change," urging them to "keep the essence of the prosecutorial system—protecting human rights—deeply in your hearts and faithfully fulfill your inherent duties."
He also noted, "While there was public anger and criticism in the past due to the abuse of power by a few prosecutors, the vast majority of your seniors are individuals who have dedicated their lives to protecting human rights with a sense of mission as public servants."
He emphasized, "Based on that same sense of mission, I ask you to actively perform the roles assigned under the new system so that it can establish itself as a more effective and human-rights-friendly system for the public."
Minister Chung stressed the role of prosecutors as legal experts.
He stated, "Moving forward, the duties of prosecutors will shift their gravity toward serving as a control tower for major crimes requiring high levels of expertise as criminal legal professionals—such as financial, securities, and unfair trading crimes—and maintaining prosecutions to reveal substantial truths in open court," urging them, "Show your expertise in these new fields so the public can feel the difference."
He added, "A single rash judgment or action by one prosecutor can undermine the credibility of the entire prosecution and, furthermore, cause distrust in the national criminal justice system," urging them to "always mind your demeanor, keeping in mind the heavy responsibilities and authority bestowed upon prosecutors."
Regarding the passage of the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act by the National Assembly—which centers on the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers—one new prosecutor remarked, "It would be a lie to say I don't feel complex emotions," but added, "I believe the role of prosecutors in defending human rights and protecting the public remains unchanged. I will stay strong and do my best in my assigned duties."
After receiving two months of practical training at the Justice and Legal Training Institute, the new prosecutors are scheduled to be deployed to frontline prosecution offices in early October to carry out their duties.
The Ministry of Justice explained that it moved up the deployment schedule for the new prosecutors by about a month compared to previous years, taking into account the urgent need to supplement prosecutorial personnel.
The Ministry stated, "Amid major changes in the criminal justice system, we will strive to faithfully support the prosecution's inherent roles of protecting public human rights and safeguarding the community from crime."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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