Top prosecutor vows to build tougher compliance policies

SEOUL, July 18 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s top prosecutor said Monday he will roll out tougher compliance policies for state attorneys in order to overhaul personnel oversight after a senior prosecutor was arrested for taking bribes from a leading online game maker.

“The case has seriously tarnished the honor and pride of the organization,” Prosecutor General Kim Soo-nam said during a meeting with high-ranking officials, adding he wishes to apologize to the general public for the scandal.

On Sunday, Jin Kyung-joon, 49, a superintendent level prosecutor was arrested for amassing massive amounts of wealth through shady stock transactions involving Nexon Co. The game maker allegedly gave some 400 million won (US$351,000) to Jin in 2005, helping him make some 12 billion won in profits through stock transactions up till 2015.

During the meeting, participants shared ideas on expanding surveillance of high-ranking prosecutors’ asset growth to root out potential illegal activities.

Participants also agreed to ban employees in the prosecutors’ office whose duties are linked to the stock market from making securities investments. In addition, prosecutors who have received bribes will not be able to register as a lawyer once they step down from public service.

Jin is the first senior prosecutor in the 68-year history of South Korea’s current prosecution system to be put behind bars while in office.