DP Lawmaker Kim Yong-min Warns Prosecutors to Follow Criminal Procedure Act, Sparks Internal Backlash

Internal sentiment within the prosecution is boiling over following remarks by Representative Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party, who targeted prosecution officials and urged them not to resist the revision of the Criminal Procedure Act.

According to the legal community on Wednesday, Representative Kim posted on his social media account the previous afternoon, stating, "I issue a clear warning to the employees belonging to the prosecution service, who will soon fade away pathetically amid the history of democratic victory."

Kim stated, "You must recognize that you are administrative civil servants and do your utmost to ensure that the laws made by the National Assembly are properly implemented in the field," adding, "If you want to claim that the law is wrong, please resign and join the People Power Party first."

In response, an investigator with 13 years of experience, surnamed A, posted an article titled "Look here, Mr. Kim Yong-min" on the prosecution's internal bulletin board this morning, rebutting, "There are not that many people here who need to be warned by you."

Investigator A criticized, "Except for individual deviations or problematic officials, ordinary prosecution officials—some 6,000 out of those 7,000—have never done anything to be ashamed of before heaven or deserve a warning from you."

A continued to point out, "If you wanted to achieve greater political success by utilizing us, you should have pointed out a few problems within the prosecution, so why are you launching personal attacks against ordinary working people?" adding, "We will do our best to ensure that laws made by the National Assembly are well-implemented in the field, so I am just speaking my mind because you felt the need to issue an uncalled-for warning."

Investigator A concluded the post by saying, "I hope you will refrain from casually making remarks with a perspective that fails to respect civil servants," and "Please do not go that far toward people who have never even once bragged about being prosecution officials outside, but simply raised families, came to work, did their assigned tasks, and worked tirelessly like helpers."

Nearly 50 comments using real names were posted on Investigator A's article within about four hours of its publication.

The comments criticized Representative Kim and supported Investigator A, with remarks such as, "He lumps everyone together without context, consumes them within a political frame, and insults all innocent members," and "Is speaking out that a law is wrong something you can only do if you join a political party?"

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.