The Justice Ministry held a ceremony on August 3 at the Government Complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, to appoint 19 new prosecutors who have completed their military service as legal officers. During the ceremony, the new prosecutors pledged, "I solemnly vow to serve the people and the nation with all my strength from beginning to end, risking my honor."
The new prosecutors are graduates of the 12th bar exam and have gained diverse experience over the past three years serving as military legal officers and public interest legal officers. They were selected through a rigorous evaluation process that included document screening, practical record assessments, personality tests, and evaluations of job and organizational competencies.
Attendees included Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho, the new prosecutors, and their families. Family members celebrated the occasion by helping the new prosecutors don their legal robes. The new prosecutors read their oath with determined expressions, stating, "We will serve the people and the nation with all our strength from beginning to end."
In his congratulatory speech, Minister Jung emphasized that the fundamental role of prosecutors in protecting citizens from crime will never change. He urged them to deeply engrain the essence of the prosecutor's system, which is to protect human rights, and to faithfully fulfill their duties.
He acknowledged past public outrage and criticism due to the abuse of power by some prosecutors but noted that the majority of their predecessors dedicated their lives to protecting citizens' rights. He encouraged the new prosecutors to actively perform their roles under the new system to ensure it becomes more effective and human rights-oriented.
Minister Jung also stressed the importance of professionalism and caution. He noted that the responsibilities of prosecutors will increasingly focus on serious crimes requiring high levels of expertise, such as financial and securities crimes. He cautioned that a single hasty decision or action by a prosecutor could lead to public distrust in the criminal justice system, urging them to always be mindful of their conduct.
The 19 new prosecutors will complete approximately two months of practical training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute before being assigned to district prosecutors' offices in early October.
A Justice Ministry official stated, "In light of significant changes in the criminal justice system, we will fully support the prosecutors in fulfilling their essential role of protecting citizens' rights and safeguarding the community from crime."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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