Jonamgwan, Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, Resigns... First High-Ranking Official to Resign After Regime Change

Jonamgwan, Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. / Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Cho Nam-gwan, Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute (age 57, Judicial Research Institute Class 24), announced his resignation on the 5th.

Cho, who served as acting Prosecutor General three times, including when President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol was Prosecutor General, is the first high-ranking prosecutor of senior prosecutor level or above to resign since the presidential election.

On the afternoon of the same day, Cho posted a message titled "Leaving the Prosecution (Resignation Greeting)" on the internal prosecution network, Epros, expressing his intention to resign.

He said, "Since my appointment as a prosecutor at the Busan District Prosecutors' Office in March 1995, I have served as a prosecutor for over 27 years and now wish to step down from this position to which I have grown attached. Looking back, although I was often lacking, I took on the challenging role of acting Prosecutor General three times during difficult times, which was overwhelming, but thanks to your support, I was able to overcome it well. I am deeply grateful."

He continued, "Now, I believe the time has come for me to quietly leave your side, having fulfilled my duties as a prosecutor. I have tried to be a senior who is not ashamed before my juniors and have struggled intensely to uphold justice and fairness as a prosecutor, but I acknowledge I was often insufficient," he reflected.

Cho stated, "Throughout my career as a prosecutor, I always held the belief that there can be no left or right path in the way of the law. We must steadily advance toward justice and fairness solely based on legal principles and evidence. I believe this is the reason for the prosecution's existence and the shortcut to gaining the trust of the people," he urged.

This statement appears to be conscious of the reality where, under the current administration, politicians have been appointed as ministers one after another, and so-called 'pro-government' prosecutors have occupied key positions within the prosecution, while prosecutors on the opposing side have been demoted to less important posts, causing division within the organization.

He expressed, "Once again, I would like to thank all the senior and junior prosecutors, investigators, and administrative staff?my family in the legal and prosecution community?who have given me abundant affection and trust. I will never forget the precious connections I have made throughout my life," and added, "Even after leaving office, I will wholeheartedly support the beloved legal and prosecution community."

Finally, Cho concluded his resignation message by quoting a phrase from Laozi's Tao Te Ching: "'Jisokburyok, Jijiburtae (知足不辱 知止不殆 - Knowing contentment avoids disgrace, knowing when to stop avoids danger).' With this mindset, I bid you farewell. Thank you all for everything," he ended.

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