[Editorial] Issues Underlying Prosecutors` Coup

Prosecutors are waging collective opposition to the promotion plan by the Roh administration. The administration is destroying the tradition of benefit for seniority positions. Due to the complex nature of the problem, however, it is hard to tell for sure who is right and who is wrong. But the destruction of seniority was heralded when President Roh appointed Kang Sum Shil as Justice Minister. In this respect, the power game between the prosecution and the Blue House is an explosion of the mutual mistrust that has accumulated in recent weeks. That is why the collective action of the prosecutors is more worrying. It is regretful to hear that each side is upping the ante with threats of a "coup" from the prosecution side and disciplinary hearings from the government.

But one thing is clear. Prosecutors themselves have previously called for the type of reform now being imposed on them. In the past, binding themselves together with seniority and a chain of command, they humbled themselves before those in power in order to gain higher positions. And in the process, they did not create any measures for reforming themselves. Considering the past practice, they have no one to blame but themselves. That is why South Koreans in various opinion polls point to the prosecution as the subject to be first reformed. Prosecutors should not evade this calling from citizens laid on them.

On the other hand, it is hard to accuse only prosecutors. We first have to evaluate whether objectivity and fairness is being maintained in the enforcement of the Roh administration`s reform plan, under which four high-ranking prosecutors are to be replaced with those of considerably lower seniority. A number of prosecutors point out that the reform drive has isolated some prosecutors and threatened the stability of the whole organization, due to its excessiveness. Their concern is legitimate in that only a handful of political prosecutors ruined the whole organization and its reputation, while the innocent organization itself is becoming victim of the masses as committed by a handful.

The real problem lies in the force-feeding style of the reform drive. Presidential aide Moon Jae In said, "The reform drive seeks to guarantee independence and autonomy for the prosecution." But his remark leaves the impression that he failed to see the fact that the reform does not have reasonable expectations. When a measure is unreasonable, it only escalates the process of surrender and dependence of the prosecution on political power.

In the end, reform hinges its success on the successful operation of the system. The same works for promotion. To exclude any political pressures when determining promotions, Minister Kang should give proper authority to the Promotion Committee so that it can function as intended.