Concerns Over Minister and Commissioner Vacancies Ahead of the Launch of the Prosecution Office

As the Prosecutors’ Office is set to launch next month, concerns are growing that the Minister of Justice, the inaugural Prosecutors’ Office chief, and the head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency could all be vacant. With the ministerial nominee’s resignation sending the appointments process back to square one, preparations for the new criminal justice system are also expected to face setbacks. The Ministry of Justice is rushing to revise the Prosecutors’ Office’s organizational rules and related subordinate statutes, but opposition within the ruling party and the ministerial vacancy are making it difficult to make a final decision. Critics point out that if finalizing the organizational structure is delayed, approval procedures, division of duties, and internal regulations will also be pushed back, making early confusion after the launch unavoidable. The appointment of the Prosecutors’ Office chief has also stalled at the stage of forming the candidate recommendation committee. The appointment of the head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency is likewise being delayed due to further vetting and resistance from the political sphere, raising the possibility that even if the new system goes into effect, it may begin without the heads of its key institutions.