Ministry of Justice Makes Sudden Prosecutor Personnel Changes... 'Yoon Seok-yeol Faction' Dispersed

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] On the 8th, the Ministry of Justice abruptly carried out promotions and transfers of senior prosecutors. This is the first personnel action since Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae took office. In this personnel reshuffle, the leadership of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, which led the investigations into the Blue House's election interference allegations and the cover-up of inspections as key aides to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, was largely replaced.

On the 8th, the Ministry of Justice held a Prosecutor Personnel Committee meeting and carried out promotions and transfers of 32 senior prosecutors at the level of chief prosecutors, effective from the 13th.

Han Dong-hoon, head of the Anti-Corruption and Serious Crimes Division and known as a close aide to Prosecutor General Yoon, was transferred to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Busan High Prosecutors' Office, and Park Chan-ho, head of the Public Investigation Division investigating the Blue House election interference allegations, was appointed Chief Prosecutor of Jeju District Prosecutors' Office. Lee Won-seok, Director of the Planning and Coordination Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, was transferred to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Suwon High Prosecutors' Office. Kang Nam-il, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, moved to Chief Prosecutor of Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office.

Lee Seong-yoon, Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice, was appointed as the new Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Shim Jae-cheol, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, was appointed head of the Anti-Corruption Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Bae Yong-won, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, will take charge of the Public Investigation Division. Bae Seong-beom, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, was promoted to High Prosecutor and appointed Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. Jo Nam-gwan, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, who oversaw the investigation into the cover-up allegations, was appointed Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice, a key position.

Additionally, Gu Bon-seon, Chief Prosecutor of Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, was appointed Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and Oh In-seo, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, was appointed Chief Prosecutor of Daegu High Prosecutors' Office. Park Seong-jin, Chief Prosecutor of Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office, was appointed Chief Prosecutor of Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office, and Jo Sang-cheol, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, was appointed Chief Prosecutor of Suwon High Prosecutors' Office.

Lee Jeong-su, Chief of Bucheon Branch Office, was promoted to Director of the Planning and Coordination Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office; Kim Gwan-jung, Chief of Goyang Branch Office, was appointed Head of the Criminal Division; and Lee Soo-kwon, Chief of Busan Eastern Branch Office, was promoted to Head of the Human Rights Division.

Shim Woo-jung, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, moved to Director of the Planning and Coordination Office at the Ministry of Justice; Lee Young-joo, Deputy Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, was appointed Head of the Planning Department at the Judicial Research and Training Institute; and Yoon Dae-jin, Chief Prosecutor of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, moved to Deputy Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute.

The Ministry of Justice and the prosecution had severe clashes ahead of the appointment of senior prosecutors at the chief prosecutor level on this day. In particular, a heated exchange of rebuttals and counter-rebuttals occurred between the two institutions over the hearing of opinions on Prosecutor General Yoon's personnel plan, leading to an unexpected battle over the truth. With this personnel reshuffle effectively cutting off the "Yoon Seok-yeol faction," strong backlash from the prosecution and severe aftershocks are expected.

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