Ministry of Justice Executes Unprecedented Prosecutor Personnel Changes... All Key Investigation Team Leaders and Deputy Chiefs of Central District Prosecutors' Office Replaced (Update)

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] A large-scale personnel reshuffle involving over 660 prosecutors at the senior prosecutor level and general prosecutors has been carried out. This reshuffle, the largest ever, coincided with the prosecution system reorganization and saw a massive replacement of key investigation team leaders who had been handling investigations targeting the administration. Notably, all four deputy chiefs of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, the largest in the country, were replaced.

On the 25th, the Ministry of Justice announced new appointments and transfers for 662 prosecutors, including 652 senior prosecutors and 10 general prosecutors. The Ministry explained that this reshuffle was "the largest-ever promotion and transfer of senior prosecutors, reflecting vacancies created by new appointments of senior prosecutors since the inauguration of the Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General, as well as the prosecution system reorganization including the establishment of the Human Rights Protection Division." It added, "Prosecutors in the criminal and trial divisions who have diligently focused on human rights and public welfare work were given preferential treatment."

The most notable aspect is the replacement of investigation team leaders who handled major power-related cases. Byun Pil-geon, head of the Criminal Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who investigated the Blue House planned inspection allegations, has been reassigned as the Human Rights Protection Officer at the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office. Lee Jeong-seop, head of the Criminal Division 3 at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, who investigated the illegal travel ban case involving former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, has moved to become head of the Criminal Division 2 at the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office. Lee Sang-hyun, head of the Criminal Division 5 at the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, who investigated the Wolseong nuclear power plant case, has also been transferred to head the Criminal Division 3 at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office.

The first to fourth deputy chiefs of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office were also changed. Jeong Jin-woo, deputy chief prosecutor of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, was appointed as the 1st deputy chief, Park Cheol-woo, former spokesperson for Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye, was appointed as the 2nd deputy chief, Jin Jae-seon, chief of the Seosan Branch, was appointed as the 3rd deputy chief, and Kim Tae-hoon, head of the Ministry of Justice's Prosecution Division, was appointed as the 4th deputy chief.

Park Seong-hoon, a prosecutor dispatched to the Financial Responsibility Investigation Headquarters, was appointed as the newly established head of the Seoul Southern District Financial and Securities Crime Investigation Cooperation Unit. Choi Hyuk, head of the Criminal Division 3 at the Goyang Branch, was transferred to head the revived Anti-Corruption and Violent Crime Division at the Busan District Prosecutors' Office.

Ko Hyung-gon, who investigated the case involving former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and then moved to head the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division at the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, was appointed as chief of the Pohang Branch. Kang Baek-shin, who was assigned to the Tongyeong Branch, was transferred to become head of the trial division at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office.

On the other hand, those classified as pro-government or part of Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye's aides were moved to key positions. Im Eun-jung, inspection researcher at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, was appointed as the Ministry of Justice's Inspection Officer, and Kim Tae-hoon, head of the Ministry of Justice's Prosecution Division, was promoted to 4th deputy chief at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. A Ministry of Justice official stated, "This personnel reshuffle focused on balancing prosecution reform and organizational stability, aiming to revitalize and renew the prosecution organization through a comprehensive 'forward-moving personnel reshuffle.'"

Meanwhile, the newly established Human Rights Protection Divisions were set up at the Seoul Central, Seoul Southern, Incheon, Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan, and Gwangju District Prosecutors' Offices. The heads of these divisions are prosecutors Ko Pil-hyung, Hwang Geum-cheon, Lee Hwan-gi, Jeong Gyeong-jin, Kim Hee-kyung, Lee Joon-sik, Kang Dae-gwon, and Lee Tae-il, respectively. All are from the 31st class.

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