Hong Ik-pyo "Prosecutor Personnel? Expecting This Scale... Proper Personnel Changes"

Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Heo Midam] Hong Ik-pyo, the chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea, evaluated the prosecution personnel reshuffle carried out by Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae on the 9th as a "proper personnel reshuffle."

On the same day, Hong appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "The prosecution personnel reshuffle is a regular personnel change, and I think this scale was expected."

He expressed the view that dismantling the so-called 'Yoon Seok-yeol faction' of senior staff at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office was natural, criticizing, "Personnel reshuffles that create factional groups centered around specific individuals, like the Hanahoe of the Chun Doo-hwan faction, which are private organizations, are very inappropriate."

Regarding the Ministry of Justice's personnel reshuffle last July that passed the 'Yoon Seok-yeol faction' personnel, he said, "It was very inappropriate," and pointed out, "At that time, it was under the Park Sang-ki Ministry of Justice administration, and such personnel reshuffles should not have been tolerated."

He added, "If future appointments or promotions depend on whom one is connected with, then all government officials in every agency will line up for those who seem to be successful."

Additionally, Hong expressed his opinion on the Ministry of Justice issuing personnel appointments without going through the procedure of hearing Prosecutor General Yoon's opinion.

He said, "Article 34, Paragraph 1 of the Prosecution Service Act states that 'the appointment and assignment of prosecutors shall be made by the President upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice,'" and added, "Minister Chu asked for opinions several times, but they were not given. They refused to come in and talk."

He continued, "Minister Chu waited from morning and cleared her schedule all afternoon, but the Prosecutor General did not come. Suddenly suggesting to meet at a 'third location' is inappropriate," criticizing that he acted as if he were a superior.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice held a prosecution personnel committee meeting on the 8th and carried out promotions and transfers of 32 senior prosecutors (at the level of Supreme Prosecutors' Office prosecutors) effective from the 13th. This personnel reshuffle led to a large-scale replacement of Prosecutor General Yoon's key aides.

Han Dong-hoon, head of the Anti-Corruption and Serious Crimes Division who led investigations into former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's family corruption and the Blue House inspection cover-up allegations, was transferred to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Busan High Prosecutors' Office, and Park Chan-ho, head of the Public Investigation Division in charge of the Blue House election interference allegations, was transferred to Chief Prosecutor of Jeju District Prosecutors' Office.

Besides these, all senior staff at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, except for the head of the Inspection Headquarters, were replaced.

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