Ministry of Justice Announces Senior Prosecutor Personnel Changes...Maintains Policy of Favoring Pro-Government Prosecutors and Demoting Those Investigating the Administration (Comprehensive)

6 New Appointments: 6 Chief Prosecutors and 10 Senior Prosecutors

On the 4th, in the high-ranking prosecutor personnel reshuffle carried out by the Ministry of Justice, Lee Jeong-su, Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice, appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (left), and Lee Seong-yoon, appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, formerly Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The Ministry of Justice carried out personnel appointments for senior prosecutors at the level of chief prosecutors and above on the 4th, effective from the 11th.

In this personnel reshuffle, prosecutors classified as pro-government were appointed to key positions again, while the leadership of prosecution offices involved in investigations related to the administration were relegated to less influential posts, repeating the established personnel trend.

On the same day, the Ministry of Justice promoted and transferred 41 prosecutors at the level of senior prosecutors, including appointing six chief prosecutors and ten chief prosecutors to new positions. This is the first large-scale regular personnel reshuffle since Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye took office.

Lee Seong-yoon Promoted to Chief Prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office... Han Dong-hoon and Yoon Dae-jin Assigned to Less Influential Posts

The most anticipated appointment was that of Lee Seong-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who was promoted to Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office. Many in the prosecution circles criticized the appropriateness of Lee, who became a defendant on charges of exerting external pressure on the 'Kim Hak-eui illegal deportation' investigation, leading a frontline prosecution office. While many expected him to be promoted to chief prosecutor but assigned as the head of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, unrelated to investigations, he was promoted to Chief Prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office as per his own wishes.

Lee's successor was appointed as Lee Jeong-su, Director of the Prosecution Bureau at the Ministry of Justice. Lee had been evaluated as relatively balanced among the candidates floated as the next Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office before the personnel reshuffle.

Kim Gwan-jung, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office and one of the candidates for the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office chief, was promoted to Chief Prosecutor of Suwon High Prosecutors' Office. Shim Jae-cheol, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, who wished to remain in his post, was retained as he desired.

Han Dong-hoon, who was transferred from Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Busan High Prosecutors' Office to Research Fellow at the Judicial Research and Training Institute last year due to his involvement in the 'Channel A coercion attempt' case, was not reinstated to a frontline prosecution office but was transferred to Deputy Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. The Judicial Research and Training Institute, which saw its last trainee graduate earlier this year due to the abolition of the judicial examination, recently admitted one trainee who had delayed entry. However, unlike before, there are no prosecutors among the institute's professors, and Han effectively maintains only the deputy director position.

Following the investigation supervision by former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, an internal inspection was conducted on Han last year, and although a rigorous investigation was carried out at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, the charges were not proven. Therefore, while no disciplinary demotion was made, it can be seen that Minister Park also showed no intention of reinstating him to a frontline prosecution office.

Yoon Dae-jin, currently Deputy Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute and classified as a close associate of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl along with Han, was transferred back to Planning Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. The Planning Director position at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, equivalent to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of a High Prosecutors' Office, is usually the first post for those promoted to chief prosecutor. Transferring Yoon, who served as Director of the Prosecution Bureau at the Ministry of Justice and Chief Prosecutor of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, to this position is effectively a message to leave the prosecution.

Jo Nam-gwan, Who Opposed Choo Mi-ae, and Kang Nam-il, Chief Prosecutor of Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office Investigating 'Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant' Case, Also Demoted

Jo Nam-gwan, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (acting Prosecutor General), who requested restraint from former Minister Choo Mi-ae during their conflict last year, was transferred to head the Judicial Research and Training Institute.

Kang Nam-il, Chief Prosecutor of Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office, who led the investigation into the 'Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant economic feasibility evaluation manipulation' case, was also demoted to Research Fellow at the Judicial Research and Training Institute. Koo Bon-seon, Chief Prosecutor of Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office, was transferred to the same position.

Among the chief prosecutors who did not express their intention to resign before the reshuffle, Park Seong-jin, Chief Prosecutor of Busan High Prosecutors' Office, was the only one promoted to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Before the personnel reshuffle, the Ministry of Justice mentioned the issue of 'personnel stagnation among senior prosecutors with high seniority' and referred to 'flexible personnel management.' The legal community interpreted this as a hint that chief prosecutors or chief prosecutors who do not voluntarily retire would be demoted to positions such as Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Six Chief Prosecutors and Ten Chief Prosecutors Newly Appointed... Organizational Revitalization Through Full Rotation of Senior Prosecutors

Yeoh Hwan-seop, Chief Prosecutor of Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, was promoted to Chief Prosecutor of Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office; Kwon Soon-beom, Chief Prosecutor of Busan District Prosecutors' Office, to Chief Prosecutor of Daegu High Prosecutors' Office; Jo Jae-yeon, Chief Prosecutor of Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, to Chief Prosecutor of Busan High Prosecutors' Office; and Jo Jong-tae, Director of the Planning and Coordination Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to Chief Prosecutor of Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office.

Joo Young-hwan, Director of the Yongin Branch of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, was promoted to Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Justice; and Koo Ja-hyun, Third Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, was promoted to Director of the Prosecution Bureau.

Ye Se-min, Chief Prosecutor of Seongnam Branch, was promoted to Director of Planning and Coordination at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office; Lee Geun-soo, Chief Prosecutor of Anyang Branch, to Director of the Public Trial Department; and Choi Seong-pil, Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, to Director of the Scientific Investigation Department.

Shim Woo-jung, Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Justice, was appointed Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office; Bae Yong-won, Chief Prosecutor of Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office, to Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office; and Lee Jong-geun, Director of the Criminal Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office.

Lee Doo-bong, Chief Prosecutor of Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office who investigated the 'Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant economic feasibility evaluation manipulation' case, was transferred to Chief Prosecutor of Incheon District Prosecutors' Office; Shin Sung-sik, Director of the Anti-Corruption Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to Chief Prosecutor of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office; Kim Hu-gon, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, to Chief Prosecutor of Daegu District Prosecutors' Office. Park Chan-ho, Chief Prosecutor of Jeju District Prosecutors' Office, classified as part of Yoon Seok-youl's faction, was transferred to Chief Prosecutor of Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office. Lee Won-seok, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Suwon High Prosecutors' Office, was appointed as his successor.

Hong Jong-hee, Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, was appointed Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office; Park Jae-eok, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Suwon High Prosecutors' Office; Park Jong-geun, Chief Prosecutor of Goyang Branch, to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Daegu High Prosecutors' Office; Kim Yang-soo, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Busan High Prosecutors' Office; and Moon Seong-in, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, to Chief Prosecutor of Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office.

"Minister Park Beom-gye Tried to Fully Reflect Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo's Opinions"... But What Actually Happened?

The Ministry of Justice self-praised the personnel reshuffle, stating, "To revitalize the prosecution atmosphere and achieve stable prosecution reform, capable talents were newly selected and appropriately assigned based on leadership, ability, qualifications, and expertise as senior prosecution officials."

It added, "In the process, Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye made efforts to fully collect and reflect the personnel opinions of the new Prosecutor General to the greatest extent possible."

Furthermore, it emphasized, "Especially to formalize and substantiate the procedure of hearing the Prosecutor General's opinions in prosecution personnel matters, Minister Park, as announced, met directly with the Prosecutor General to thoroughly listen to specific personnel opinions and ensured that those opinions were substantially reflected in the new and transferred personnel appointments."

The day before, Minister Park and Prosecutor General Kim met at 4 p.m. at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul, and discussed appointments at the chief prosecutor level for about two hours.

Before the meeting, Prosecutor General Kim said, "I will strongly discuss many things with the Minister," but after the meeting, he told reporters, "I tried my best to present and explain my opinions during the two hours, but I feel I need more time," implying differences in specific personnel matters with Minister Park.

On the other hand, Minister Park responded after the meeting, "I heard the opinions very thoroughly and in detail."

However, from 6:30 p.m. that day, the two unexpectedly continued discussions over dinner, and the meeting lasted nearly five hours, extending past 9 p.m.

It is known that Prosecutor General Kim opposed the demotion-type personnel appointments of prosecutors classified as close associates of former Prosecutor General Yoon during the meeting. In particular, Kim recommended the reinstatement of Han, but Minister Park expressed that it was not possible.

On the morning of the day, while going to work at the Ministry of Justice Government Complex Gwacheon, Minister Park was asked by reporters whether the differences with Prosecutor General Kim had narrowed during the previous day's meeting, and he replied, "It is a procedure to listen to opinions, not to narrow differences."

Article 34, Paragraph 1 of the Prosecutors' Office Act states, "The appointment and assignment of prosecutors shall be made by the President upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice. In this case, the Minister of Justice shall hear the opinions of the Prosecutor General before recommending the assignment of prosecutors." The phrase "hearing the opinions of the Prosecutor General" is interpreted literally as sufficient to hear the Prosecutor General's opinions before personnel appointments, but not necessarily to reflect them in the actual appointments.

Given the repeated blatant discriminatory personnel appointments against prosecutors classified as pro-government, those who investigated the administration, and prosecutors known as close associates of former Prosecutor General Yoon, and that Minister Park only appeared to listen to the Prosecutor General's opinions as previously announced but did not substantially reflect Kim's opinions in the appointments, the conflict between the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution is expected to be difficult to resolve during Kim's term.

Meanwhile, on the day, Minister Park, while leaving the Ministry of Justice Government Complex Gwacheon, responded to questions from the press about the personnel reshuffle, saying, "I think we have well balanced reform and stability," and added, "Overall, we also sought revitalization in terms of organizational activation."

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