Besieged prosecution forces top man out

Sex scandal, corruption, cronyism paint law enforcement agency into corner

By Kim Rahn

Prosecutor General Han Sang-dae said Thursday he would tender his resignation today after announcing reform measures and issuing a public apology over recent corruption scandals and internal disputes within the prosecutor’s office.

The decision came hours after senior and junior prosecution officials of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office (SPO) demanded Han step down to take responsibility for the series of incidents that have rocked it lately. He first rejected the demand, but later accepted it.

Earlier in the morning, senior prosecutors of the SPO demanded Han’s resignation. This came after Han and the SPO’s Central Investigation Department (CID) chief Choi Jae-gyeong clashed the previous night over the former’s inspection order into the latter’s alleged assistance of senior prosecutor Kim Kwang-joon who was arrested for bribery.

“After having our own meeting and collecting opinions from prosecutors at regional offices across the country, we decided Han can no longer lead the prosecution,” Deputy Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook said.

With strong discontent, Han initially refused the demand, asking them to resign as well. But he caved in to the growing calls for his resignation. .

Cheong Wa Dae officials said President Lee Myung-bak told Justice Minister Kwon Jae-jin to play a key role in settling the problem, saying public concern was growing. It was rumored that the presidential office initially didn’t want to accept Han’s resignation because he is needed to supervise any irregularities related to the upcoming presidential election, but now it has to factor in the seriousness of the internal rift with the prosecution.

While there have been calls for Han’s resignation following Kim’s alleged bribery and a trainee prosecutor’s alleged sex with a suspect, the tension was exacerbated by the clash between Han and Choi.

On Wednesday evening, the inspection team of the SPO said it was investigating Choi for “degrading the prosecution’s honor” because he tipped Kim off through phone text messages on how to respond to media questions about the scandal, when he was being investigated over the bribery allegation.

This is the first time for the prosecution to investigate the chief of the CID, which deals with crimes committed by the rich and powerful. It is also very unusual for an internal investigation to be made public.

Choi strongly opposed the move, saying he wouldn’t accept it.

“Kim is my friend and I sent the message before the allegation was confirmed because he said he felt victimized. I reported all of this to Han, so he is well aware of it, and the special prosecutor who investigated Kim also confirmed there was nothing wrong with my messages,” Choi said.

He continued that he was framed because he was in conflict with Han over the abolishment of the CID, which Han was planning to announce as a reform measure.

“We had a difference of opinion about his resignation and the department abolishment and I was pressed to resign. I think the conflict led to the investigation, but I’ll not kowtow to improper actions against me,” Choi said.