Office of Public Prosecutions Holds Closed Opening Ceremony Amid First-Day Chaos

[Anchor]

Leaving behind a 78-year history, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, which changed its name to the Office of Public Prosecutions, was launched today (October 2). However, from its very first day, confusion erupted across various fronts, including a trial being halted due to issues surrounding the dispatch of Office of Public Prosecutions prosecutors to a special counsel, and disruptions in the civil complaint reception system.

Reporter Jeon Yeonnam has the story.

[Reporter]

A notice for the opening ceremony was posted in the lobby on the first floor of the main building of the Office of Public Prosecutions, which was the Supreme Prosecutors' Office until yesterday.

Unlike the bustling opening ceremony of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, the Office of Public Prosecutions held its opening ceremony privately in a relatively calm atmosphere.

It was reported that no outside guests attended, with only Office of Public Prosecutions executives and some Ministry of Justice officials present.

As the inaugural head of the Office of Public Prosecutions is currently vacant, Acting Prosecutor General Lee Jeong-hyeon released only a written statement following the opening ceremony.

In the statement, Acting Prosecutor General Lee stated, "We must prove the reason for the existence of the Office of Public Prosecutions to the public once again and 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 agency changes."

With the Serious Crime Investigation Agency taking over existing investigative functions, the Office of Public Prosecutions is solely responsible for indictment, but chaos ensued in various places from the very first day of its launch.

Regarding the special counsel case concerning preferential treatment in the relocation of the presidential residence under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, a trial indicted by the comprehensive special counsel was disrupted just 12 minutes after it began. The bench halted the trial, pointing out that "there are no regulations on whether the dispatch of prosecutors belonging to the newly launched Office of Public Prosecutions to the special counsel is valid."

Civil complaint receptions also experienced setbacks as the transition of the prosecutors' office work system 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 due to the separation of investigation and indictment, confusion in the early stages of the launch is expected to continue for a while.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.