[Anchor]
Leaving behind a 78-year history, the prosecution agency, newly renamed the Gongso-cheong (Prosecution Service), launched today (Oct. 2). However, from its very first day, confusion erupted across various fronts, including trials being suspended over the issue of dispatching Gongso-cheong prosecutors to an independent counsel team, alongside disruptions in the civil complaint reception system.
Reporter Jeon Yeonnam has the details.
[Reporter]
A notice for the opening ceremony was hung in the lobby on the first floor of the Gongso-cheong headquarters, which was the Supreme Prosecutors' Office until yesterday.
Unlike the bustling opening ceremony of the Jungsu-cheong (Investigation Service), the Gongso-cheong held its opening ceremony privately in a relatively subdued atmosphere.
It was reported that no external guests attended, with only senior Gongso-cheong officials and a few Ministry of Justice officials present.
As the inaugural head of the Gongso-cheong is currently vacant, Acting Prosecutor General Lee Jeong-hyeon released only a written statement after the opening ceremony.
In the statement, Acting Prosecutor General Lee stated, "We must prove the reason for the Gongso-cheong's existence to the public once again and work to regain their trust."
He also emphasized, "Protecting the socially vulnerable and safeguarding the basic rights and human rights of the public are the reasons for our existence that must not change, even if the name of the organization changes."
With the Jungsu-cheong taking over the existing investigative functions of the prosecution, the Gongso-cheong is exclusively responsible for indictments, but confusion arose in various places right from its launch day.
Regarding the trial indicted by the comprehensive independent counsel over the preferential treatment controversy surrounding the relocation of the official residence during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, proceedings broke down just 12 minutes after starting. The court suspended the trial, pointing out that "there are no regulations on whether the dispatch of prosecutors belonging to the newly launched Gongso-cheong to the independent counsel is valid."
Civil complaint reception was also disrupted as the transition of the prosecution's work systems was delayed in conjunction with the transfer of investigative functions.
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As the criminal justice system has changed significantly for the first time in 78 years with the separation of investigation and indictment, early confusion is expected to persist for a while.
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