Key Position Guarding the Prosecutor's Vault, 'Director-General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office' Retained

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The Ministry of Justice has decided to retain the Director of the General Affairs Bureau of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, who oversees the internal management of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, in this general personnel appointment. This position is the highest-ranking among general personnel in the prosecution, currently held by Director Bok Dugyu.

Originally, the Director of the General Affairs Bureau was a position where the person recommended by the Prosecutor General was appointed without issue. However, last year, former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk broke this convention by appointing Director Bok, causing controversy. The retention of Director Bok suggests that President Yoon Seok-yeol's request for replacement was likely rejected by the Ministry of Justice, and that President Yoon's position will become even more constrained following the upcoming mid-level personnel reshuffle.

According to the prosecution on the 19th, the Ministry of Justice decided to retain Director Bok in the upcoming personnel appointments for public officials at grade 5 or higher in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office scheduled for this week. The Director of the General Affairs Bureau oversees all administrative affairs of the prosecution and special activity funds, making it a position known as the holder of the so-called "key to the treasury."

In particular, after President Yoon took office, the role of the Director of the General Affairs Bureau attracted attention for its added political significance. Traditionally, the Director was appointed from among those designated by the Prosecutor General. However, last year, former Minister Cho appointed Director Bok, who was not recommended by President Yoon, which the legal community interprets as the Blue House or the ruling party beginning to check President Yoon. Starting with the failure to place a close aide as Director of the General Affairs Bureau, President Yoon had to witness the dismantling of the so-called "Yoon Seok-yeol faction" in the senior and mid-level personnel appointments three months later.

In the senior personnel appointments conducted earlier this month, President Yoon even conceded the position of Deputy Prosecutor General to a close aide of Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae. If the remaining aides are all reassigned in the mid-level personnel reshuffle at the end of this month, President Yoon is expected to spend the remaining one year of his term in isolation.

A lawyer with a background in prosecution said, "The Director of the General Affairs Bureau is a position that discusses basic prosecution operation plans and internal and external matters with the Prosecutor General, and often someone who has worked closely with the Prosecutor General is appointed." He added, "However, as the perception that this position is meant to check the Prosecutor General has taken hold, a tense relationship between the Prosecutor General and the Director is likely to continue."

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