Choo Mi-ae's Final Farewell... Personnel Changes for Daejeon Nuclear Investigation Team and Other Prosecutors

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae has carried out personnel changes for prosecutors in the first half of 2021, including replacing two members of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office nuclear power plant investigation team. Even if the leadership retains their positions in the upcoming high-level personnel reshuffle following the investigation team changes, the speed of the investigation is expected to be affected.

On the 21st, the Ministry of Justice announced personnel changes effective February 1, involving 542 prosecutors, including 11 prosecutors at the senior prosecutor level and 531 general prosecutors.

The Ministry of Justice explained that the personnel principles considered in this reshuffle included the principle of regional exchange, decentralized placement by local prosecutor's office jurisdiction, and restrictions on concentrated assignments in planning departments. In particular, evaluations and achievements from the field, such as outstanding prosecutors recommended by agency heads and exemplary prosecutors selected by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, were reflected in the personnel decisions.

A notable point is the changes in the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office nuclear power plant investigation team handling the case of alleged manipulation of the economic feasibility evaluation of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1. Prosecutor Kim Hyung-won and Prosecutor Kim Soo-min, close aides of Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Sang-hyun, who leads the investigation team, were transferred to Seongnam Branch and Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, respectively.

Prosecutor Lee Kyu-won, who faced procedural illegality controversy during the travel ban process of former Vice Minister Kim Hak-ui, was dispatched to the Fair Trade Commission in September last year and was not included in this personnel reshuffle.

Meanwhile, high-level personnel changes in the prosecution are expected to be directly overseen by Justice Minister nominee Park Beom-gye. The personnel plan is scheduled to be discussed after the nominee's parliamentary confirmation hearing concludes next Monday.

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