Rumor: Replacement of Prosecutor General Is Imminent

A rumor has been spreading among political and prosecution circles recently asking if Korea’s prosecutor general is about to be replaced. Behind the rumor lies the problem concerning the term of Prosecutor General Jeong Sang-myeong.

Prosecutor General Jeong has been in office since November 24, 2005. Given the two-year term of a prosecutor general, Jeong is set to resign on November 23 this year if he fulfills his term without incident. In that case, the retirement of the head of Korea’s prosecution will take place when there is less than a month left before the presidential election.

President Roh Moo-hyun can appoint the succeeding prosecutor general at the end of his term. But considering how power works, it is unlikely that such a successor will stay in office in the next administration. Not only that, it is highly possible that another prosecutor general will be named in three or four months.

Another problem is the procedural steps for prosecutor general confirmation hearings at the National Assembly. Even if President Roh appoints a new prosecutor general, there is no guarantee that the hearings at the National Assembly will be carried out properly.

The rumor concerning the replacement of the prosecution chief is concurrent with what many point out as problematic: holding the presidential election so closely to the end of the prosecution chief’s term. This is controversial since the closer the election, the more delicate political decisions are required.

This rumor is gaining traction and even the name of a possible succeeding prosecutor general has been mentioned. Around the Uri Party, word is spreading that a figure of Honam origin is being considered for the next prosecutor general. Some in the political circles are raising questions wondering whether the fact that the prosecution recently set out to clear suspicions on election candidates is not related to such movements at the core of the governing party.

Ahead of the rumor concerning the replacement of the prosecution chief, another rumor spread last month that the Minister of Justice Kim Seong-ho will be replaced. The main point of the rumor was that Cheong Wa Dae was irritated by the answer Minister Kim gave during a National Assembly session right after President Roh revealed his plan last month to file action on the constitutionality of Article 9 of the Election Law which stipulates the duty of a government employee to stay politically neutral during an election. The answer by Minister Kim was that he does not think Article 9 is unconstitutional.

Regarding the rumor, Cheong Wa Dae said that it is not true at all. A Cheong Wa Dae officer said, “Minister Kim’s contribution was valuable in passing the law school act. He will stay in office for now.”

yongari@donga.com jin0619@donga.com