New Board Member of the Board of Audit and Inspection: Cho Eun-seok, Former Prosecutor Who Led Sewol Ferry Investigation (Update)

Eunseok Jo, Nominee for the New Board Member of the Board of Audit and Inspection

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] Jo Eun-seok, a former head of the Judicial Research and Training Institute and a former prosecutor (56), has been nominated for the position of Audit Commissioner at the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), which had been vacant for the past nine months. He is the figure who led the joint investigation by the prosecution and police during the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014. After being sidelined during the Park Geun-hye administration, he was appointed as the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Chief shortly after the Moon Jae-in administration took office in 2017, and is now set to serve as an Audit Commissioner.

On the 15th, Choi Jae-hyung, the Chairman of the BAI, announced in a press release that he had recommended former Judicial Research and Training Institute head Jo as the new Audit Commissioner. Audit Commissioners are appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the BAI.

Jo, a native of Jangseong, Jeollanam-do, graduated from Gwangdeok High School and Korea University’s Department of Law, passing the 29th Judicial Examination in 1987. He was commissioned as a prosecutor at the Seongnam Branch Office in 1993 and served in the prosecution for about 27 years, holding positions such as spokesperson for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, head of the Criminal Affairs Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, chief prosecutor of the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, chief prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, and head of the Judicial Research and Training Institute.

Notably, while serving as head of the Criminal Affairs Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2014, Jo led the investigation into the Sewol ferry disaster, including the maritime police's failure in rescue operations, during which he clashed with the Ministry of Justice. When he was transferred away from the frontline investigation to become the deputy director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, rumors of conflict with Woo Byung-woo, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, surfaced.

After the Moon Jae-in administration took office, Jo was appointed chief prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in August 2017, then served as the 43rd head of the Judicial Research and Training Institute before retiring in July 2019.

The BAI evaluated him, stating, "He is well-regarded for his cool-headed judgment and strong character, having led the investigation into the April 16 Sewol ferry disaster with principle and conviction." They added, "He communicated within the prosecution organization with rational opinions and a warm, straightforward manner, fostering a healthy and flexible organizational culture." They further noted, "With firm conviction, extensive investigative experience, and legal insight, he is expected to perform the duties of Audit Commissioner with strict integrity."

Meanwhile, the Audit Commission, composed of seven members including the Chairman, had operated with six members for about nine months after former Audit Commissioner Lee Joon-ho retired in April last year without a successor being appointed. During this period, significant audits related to the legality of nuclear phase-out policies, such as the 'Wolseong Unit 1' case, were underway, and conflicts arose between the Blue House and the BAI over the appointment of an Audit Commissioner. The Blue House reportedly proposed Kim Oh-soo, former Deputy Minister of Justice, for the position, but Chairman Choi refused to recommend him, citing reasons such as "political neutrality."

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