Prosecutor Mid-Level Executive Personnel Changes to Be Implemented on the 23rd... "Breaking Tradition While Considering Investigations"

Prosecutor Personnel Committee: "Prosecutors Working at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and Central District Prosecutors' Office to Be Evenly Distributed Nationwide... Preference Given to Criminal and Trial Divisions"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The second prosecution personnel reshuffle since Choo Mi-ae's appointment as Minister of Justice is expected to take place on the 23rd.

The Ministry of Justice defined the previous prosecution personnel system, which centered on former special investigation divisions and certain departments, as "elitism within the organization," and presented a personnel principle to break away from this by favoring prosecutors who have been engaged in criminal and trial work.

However, it also stated that the continuity of investigation and trial would be considered, leading to speculation that a drastic reshuffle replacing all prosecutors currently handling major investigations is unlikely.

On the 20th at 2 p.m., the Ministry of Justice held a prosecution personnel committee meeting at the Government Complex Gwacheon to review promotions and transfers of mid-level executives at the high prosecutor level (deputy chief prosecutors and chief prosecutors).

After the committee concluded, the Ministry of Justice immediately announced the results. Regarding the high prosecutor level personnel, i.e., deputy chief prosecutors and chief prosecutors, which are of particular interest, the Ministry stated, "We will conduct personnel appointments in accordance with the prosecutor personnel regulations and principles of trend exchange, ensuring principles and balance."

In particular, the Ministry emphasized, "We will favor prosecutors who have dedicated themselves to human rights protection and work directly related to public livelihood, such as criminal and trial duties, breaking away from the existing personnel practices centered on specific departments and organizational elitism." This personnel principle is similar to that of the previous high-level prosecution personnel reshuffle, which saw a large-scale replacement of prosecutors who led investigations targeting the ruling party.

However, the Ministry also said, "We will comprehensively consider the status of ongoing investigations and trials in current cases in personnel decisions." In this regard, considering that promoting the 34th Judicial Research and Training Institute class members, who are currently in charge of major investigations, to chief prosecutor positions would inevitably reduce frontline criminal and trial personnel, the promotions of the 34th class to chief prosecutor and the 35th class to deputy chief prosecutor have been deferred until the next personnel reshuffle.

The principle of "favoring criminal and trial departments" also applies to general prosecutor personnel. The Ministry stated, "We will actively reflect the personnel wishes of excellent prosecutors recommended by frontline agency heads and appoint prosecutors who have worked in criminal and trial departments to key positions."

Additionally, the Ministry announced a large-scale personnel transfer, stating, "To strengthen the work capabilities of frontline offices, excellent prosecutors who have worked at the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office will be evenly distributed to prosecution offices nationwide." The personnel results will be announced on the 23rd and implemented on the 3rd of next month.

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