After penning Hankyoreh articles, prosecutor resigns

Kum Tae-sup

Controversy brewed over content, including tips to suspects on how to handle interrogations

Kum Tae-sup, 40, a prosecutor at the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office, tendered his resignation after a controversy erupted over his contribution of articles to the Hankyoreh. The content of these articles was questioned by his former peers, including one article that instructed suspects how to "properly handle" interrogations by the prosecution.

In his first article, published in September of last year, Kum advised people under questioning by the prosecution "to do nothing and thoroughly depend on their lawyers."

Kum had originally planned to contribute 10 articles about the contentious subject, but stopped writing after only one was published, as controversy among fellow prosecutors intensified.

On January 11, in an interview with the Hankyoreh, Kum said, "I wanted to do new work and decided to tender my resignation late last year." The resignation offer was submitted on January 10. Kum said he would open his own law practice.

The contribution by Kum Tae-sup to the Hankyoreh.

After the articles began to appear, Kum was warned by chief prosecutor Cheong Sang-myeong for contributing a private opinion to the media that distorts the reality of investigation practices. He was transferred to a non-investigatory department.

On the other hand, Kum got a lot of praise from readers outside the prosecutor’s office, saying that his article gave them an oppertunity to learn about a suspect’s legal rights.

Asked whether he decided to resign because of the controversy, Kum answered, "Not in particular. My 12-year-old career as a prosecutor will remain a good memory."

When he explained his resignation to his son, who is in middle school, the son seemed somewhat disappointed, telling his father that ‘a lawyer cannot scold bad guys.’

People close to Kum said his career was hit severely by the controversy. After being transferred to the non-investigatory department, he was given few jobs, they said.

Kum apologized to readers of the Hankyoreh for not contributing his 10 articles as pledged, saying when he becomes a lawyer again, he will put into practice what he had planned to write. "Based on my experience as a prosecutor, I will do my best," Kum said. His office will open next month in Seoul’s Seocho-dong.

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