Ministry of Justice "Positively Reviewing Prosecutor Reinforcement for Lime Investigation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] It has been confirmed that the Ministry of Justice is considering a plan to reinforce investigative prosecutors at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, which is investigating the Lime Asset Management (Lime) redemption suspension incident.

A Ministry of Justice official stated in a phone call with Asia Economy on the 19th, "The Prosecutor's Office is very positively reviewing the additional dispatch of investigative prosecutors."

Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae is also reported to have instructed, "Ensure there is no shortage in the investigation." Regarding this, a Ministry of Justice official explained, "It is understood as a general directive, not specifically because it is the Lime investigation."

Previously, the Ministry of Justice had once rejected the prosecution's request for dispatch, drawing more attention to the current review results. The Ministry of Justice rejected the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office's request for the additional dispatch of two prosecutors through the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, saying, "Other prosecutors' offices are also complaining of manpower shortages and are reluctant to dispatch," and added, "Let's monitor the investigation situation first and then reconsider the issue of dispatching prosecutors."

However, it is reported that the stance has recently changed. Before considering reinforcement, on the 16th, the Ministry of Justice reportedly conveyed to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office that it is "positively reviewing the additional dispatch request."

According to the Prosecutor Work Regulations, if the period of a prosecutor's duty substitution (internal dispatch) exceeds one month, approval from the Minister of Justice is required. The Ministry of Justice has previously announced a policy to minimize internal and external dispatches of prosecutors.

The Lime investigation is currently being handled by the Criminal Division 6 (Chief Prosecutor Cho Sang-won) of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office. On the 5th, under the direction of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office dispatched three prosecutors from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and one prosecutor from the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office.

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