Ministry of Justice, “Public Prosecution Service requires special activity expenses”… Ministry of Budget: “Cannot be organized due to lack of investigative function”

Ministry of Justice "Necessary for execution of sentence and recovery of crime proceeds"... Ministry of Budget: “Budget based on investigation”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporters Kwon Hee-won and Noh Seon-woong = On the 11th, the Ministry of Justice announced that the special activity budget should be paid for the execution of sentences, not the investigation of the Public Prosecution Office, but the Ministry of Planning and Budget expressed its opposition, saying, "A cautious approach is necessary."

Acting Minister of Justice Lee Jin-soo (Vice Minister of Justice) was asked by Rep. Lee Geon-tae of the Democratic Party of Korea at the plenary session of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts of the National Assembly on this day, "Even if the Public Prosecution Service lost its investigative function, doesn't it still need special activity fees for confidential work?" He answered, "Yes," and "Even if investigation and prosecution are separated, there are many roles that prosecutors, detectives, and legal officers of the Public Prosecution Office must play."

He added, "The results and goals desired in criminal justice procedures can be achieved only when areas such as execution of sentences, recovery of crime proceeds, extradition of criminals, and cooperation in criminal justice proceed smoothly."

Acting Director Lee emphasized, "If we analyze the details of the execution of special activity expenses this year, about 42% were used for tasks that the Public Prosecution Office must perform, such as execution of sentences and recovery of crime proceeds," and added, "In order to properly perform the remaining functions of the Public Prosecution Office, it is necessary to allocate special activity expenses."

On the other hand, the Ministry of Planning and Budget actually took a stance against allocating special activity expenses to the Public Prosecution Office's budget.

Cho Yong-beom, Vice Minister of Planning and Budget, said, "In the past, the prosecution's special activity expenses were allocated solely on the premise of investigating cases," and argued, "Increasing or creating new special activity expenses requires a very cautious approach."

Vice Minister Cho countered, "As the investigation and prosecution are now separated, the investigation has clearly been transferred to the Central Investigation Office, so special activity expenses based on that investigation could not be allocated to the Public Prosecution Office," adding, "Expenses for repatriation of criminals and confidential activities of the Public Prosecution Office have been classified as specific business expenses, not special activity expenses."