Daejangdong Investigation Team Reduced from 25 to 20 Prosecutors... Impact of Regular Personnel Changes

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The dedicated investigation team at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (led by Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-hoon, 4th Deputy Chief Prosecutor), which is probing allegations of preferential treatment and lobbying in the Daejang-dong development project, has reduced its size from 25 to 20 members.

According to legal circles on the 7th, the Daejang-dong investigation team at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office was slightly reorganized from this day as part of the first half personnel reshuffle and is now operating with 20 prosecutors.

The team leader Kim Tae-hoon (age 51, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 30), 4th Deputy Chief Prosecutor, investigation supervisor Jeong Yong-hwan (age 47, class 32), head of the Anti-Corruption and Violent Crime Division 1, and Yoo Jin-seung (age 48, class 33), head of the Economic Crime Criminal Division, continue the ongoing investigation and also handle prosecution maintenance. Specifically, the team consists of all 13 prosecutors from the Economic Crime Criminal Division, 3 prosecutors from the Anti-Corruption and Violent Crime Division 1, 2 prosecutors dispatched from other offices (Busan District Prosecutors' Office and Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office), and 1 internal support staff member.

Newly transferred department head Choi Dae-gun (age 47, class 34) of the Crime Proceeds Recovery Division did not join the investigation team and is responsible for regular departmental duties. Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Ik-soo (age 49, class 35), who belongs to the investigation team, moved from the Economic Crime Criminal Division to the Anti-Corruption and Violent Crime Division 1, and Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Jin-ho (age 46, class 36) transferred from the Crime Proceeds Recovery Division to the Economic Crime Criminal Division.

Among the rank-and-file prosecutors, Lee Jung-hyun, who went abroad for studies in December last year, along with Choi Sung-kyu, Moon Jong-bae, and Yang Chan-kyu, were transferred out. Meanwhile, Lee Jung-gyu, Nam Jae-hyun, and Kim Se-hyun, who were dispatched to other offices, officially became members of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office this time.

Yu Kyung-pil (age 51, class 33), who was demoted after overseeing the Daejang-dong investigation amid the so-called 'split dining' controversy and subsequently resigned, reportedly started working at his new posting at the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office on this day. Due to disciplinary procedures, his resignation has not yet been accepted within the Ministry of Justice.

Meanwhile, there have been some changes in the Anti-Corruption and Violent Crime Division 2, which is investigating allegations involving Kim Gun-hee, wife of People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl, related to the 'Deutsche Motors stock manipulation' and the 'Kobana Contents indirect sponsorship' cases. Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jo Joo-yeon (age 50, class 33) remains, but Deputy Chief Prosecutor Park Ki-tae (age 46, class 35) moved to become head of the Criminal Division 3 at the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, reducing the total number from 9 to 8. Among the 6 rank-and-file prosecutors, half, or 3, were replaced.

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