President Moon nominates Kim Jin-wook as first head of Corruption Investigation Office... Ruling party lawmaker likely successor to Minister Choo (Summary)

Judge Kim Jin-wook, Former Judge, Nominated as First Head of the Corruption Investigation Office, Reflecting 'Prosecutorial Reform' Policy... Ministerial-Level Appointments Including Successor to Minister Choo Imminent

[Asia Economy Reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Son Seon-hee] President Moon Jae-in nominated Kim Jin-wook, Senior Researcher at the Constitutional Court (54, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 21, photo), as the first head of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HCIO) on the 30th. The successor to Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is also expected to be appointed on the same day, with a ruling party lawmaker being a strong candidate.

Kang Min-seok, spokesperson for the Blue House, announced that President Moon nominated Kim as the final candidate for the HCIO chief that morning. Kang said, "Since President Moon has nominated the final candidate for the first HCIO chief, he requested the National Assembly's cooperation so that the confirmation hearing can be smoothly held as stipulated by law and the HCIO can be launched promptly."

Among the two candidates recommended by the National Assembly on the 28th?Kim Jin-wook and Lee Geon-ri, Vice Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and former prosecutor (57, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 16)?Kim was selected. Both were recommended by the Korean Bar Association.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The ruling party had anticipated favoring a judge over a former prosecutor. Kim Yong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, predicted Kim Jin-wook would be chosen during an interview on YTN Radio's "Hwang Bo-seon's Start of a New Morning," expressing concern that "the opposition party might try to obstruct or delay the confirmation hearing process."

Alongside the announcement of the final HCIO chief candidate, it is reported that Minister Choo's resignation will be accepted and the new Minister of Justice appointed in the afternoon. Among the leading candidates are Democratic Party lawmakers Park Beom-gye and So Byung-chul, both with legal backgrounds, though there is also a possibility of a third candidate being selected.

In addition to the Ministry of Justice, minister-level personnel changes are expected for Environment Minister Jo Myeong-rae and Director of the National Veterans Affairs Office Park Sam-deuk. The decision not to limit personnel changes solely to the Ministry of Justice is seen as a political strategy to mitigate controversy surrounding Minister Choo's replacement.

Meanwhile, the replacement of key Blue House aides, including Chief of Staff Noh Young-min, is scheduled for next month. A substantial "second reshuffle," involving multiple ministries, is also expected to be carried out alongside the Blue House reorganization.

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