Prosecutors' Personnel Cuts 'Before the Autumn Storm'... This Week Marks Peak Political-Prosecutorial Conflict

Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol
Meeting Date Undecided, Schedule Coordination Careful
Prosecutorial Personnel Committee to Convene After Meeting
Personnel Announcements Expected Soon
Completion Expected by This Weekend or Early Next Week

Prosecutors Concerned About Major High-Ranking Transfers Including Yoon's Close Associate Han Dong-hoon
If Counterinvestigation on Choo's Election Interference Allegations Occurs
Political Situation Could Worsen Early Next Year

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is arriving at the Ministry of Justice, Gyeonggi Government Gwacheon Complex, on the 6th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyung-min and Song Seung-yoon] As Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae prepares to exercise her authority over prosecutorial personnel appointments, the conflict between the government and the prosecution has reached its peak. Some speculate that if an appointment plan unacceptable to the prosecution is announced, the Prosecutor General might resign. The conflict, triggered by the investigation into former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's family, has entangled the Ministry of Justice, the prosecution, the Blue House, and political circles, emerging as a political storm at the start of the year.

According to the Ministry of Justice and prosecution sources on the 6th, the scheduled meeting of the Ministry of Justice's Prosecutorial Personnel Committee, initially set for the morning of the 6th, is expected to be postponed somewhat. This is understood to be due to the need to first hold a courtesy meeting between Minister Choo and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. This consideration appears to be based on regulations and customary procedures requiring the Minister of Justice to consult the Prosecutor General before making personnel decisions. The date and time of the courtesy meeting have not yet been announced.

Asia Economy's investigation confirmed that as of the morning of the 6th, the schedule for the courtesy meeting was still being carefully coordinated. A senior official at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said, "We have not yet received any contact from the Ministry of Justice regarding the courtesy meeting." Minister Choo, upon arriving at the Government Complex Gwacheon around 9 a.m., did not respond to reporters' questions such as "Is there a reason for the delay in the courtesy meeting with the Prosecutor General?" or "Have you requested the convening of the Prosecutorial Personnel Committee?" and entered the building directly.

If the Personnel Committee meeting is held after the courtesy meeting, the personnel appointments are expected to be announced immediately. The personnel work is anticipated to be completed by this weekend or early next week, following the confirmation hearings of Prime Minister nominee Chung Sye-kyun scheduled for the 7th and 8th. However, it is widely believed that the personnel details have already been finalized. The legal community interprets Minister Choo's coordination of the committee meeting schedule as an indication that the plan has been decided.

Tension is palpable inside and outside the prosecution ahead of this unprecedented personnel upheaval. Prosecutor General Yoon presided over the first senior executive meeting of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office this year, and the atmosphere was reportedly somewhat heavy due to rumors that personnel changes were imminent. The scenario the prosecution fears most is a large-scale reassignment of senior executives at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Names such as Han Dong-hoon, Head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division; Park Chan-ho, Head of the Public Investigation Division; and Bae Sung-beom, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, have been mentioned as potential targets for reassignment. These individuals are considered Prosecutor General Yoon's closest aides, having recently led investigations into the corruption of Cho Kuk's family, allegations of election interference by the Blue House, and politically motivated investigations. Their departure from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office would inevitably deal a significant blow to ongoing investigations, and political circles are expected to intensify accusations of 'investigation obstruction' through personnel authority.

There is also analysis that Minister Choo, who cannot easily ignore opposition from the prosecution and political circles, may minimize the scope of personnel changes. In this case, she might only fill the seven currently vacant chief prosecutor-level positions (Chief Prosecutors of Daejeon, Daegu, and Gwangju High Prosecutors' Offices; Deputy Chief Prosecutors of Busan and Suwon High Prosecutors' Offices; Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute; and Planning Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute). However, given Minister Choo's strong commitment to prosecutorial reform, emphasizing the need for reform voices from within the prosecution since her inauguration, the likelihood of a routine personnel reshuffle is low.

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is answering questions from reporters after paying respects at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Meanwhile, in the National Assembly, prosecutorial reform bills, including the adjustment of investigative authority between the police and prosecution, are expected to be submitted and put to a vote on the same day, which will likely increase the pressure on the prosecution alongside the personnel changes. The passage of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HICO) establishment bill, which has already passed the National Assembly, along with the investigative authority adjustment bill, could serve to consolidate internal opposition within the prosecution.

Prosecutor General Yoon's countermeasure is expected to be a tightening of the investigation reins. This will involve a focused investigation into whether Minister Choo herself was involved in allegations of election interference. The investigation has been intensifying since last week. The prosecution is examining whether the Blue House and the Democratic Party were involved in supporting and intervening in the formulation of campaign pledges and the sole nomination process for Song Cheol-ho, Mayor of Ulsan. Minister Choo was the leader of the Democratic Party at that time. In connection with this, on the 3rd, the prosecution summoned Jeong Jin-woo, who was the deputy chief of staff when Minister Choo was party leader, as a witness for questioning, and on the 4th, they conducted a search and seizure of the Political Affairs Advisory Office at Ulsan City Hall.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.