Chairman of the Prosecutor General Candidate Recommendation Committee Kim Jin-tae, Former Prosecutor General

Chairman Lee Jong-yeop of the Bar Association and 9 Members Formed
Public Nominations from Tomorrow until the 19th
Names Mentioned Include Yeo Hwan-seop, Kim Hu-gon, and Noh Jeong-yeon
Concerns Over 'Figurehead President' Lead to Proposal Rejection

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] On the 11th, the Ministry of Justice formed the Prosecutor General Candidate Recommendation Committee (Recommendation Committee) and officially began the appointment process for the Prosecutor General, a position that has been vacant for two months.

On the same day, the Ministry of Justice announced the appointment of nine members to the Recommendation Committee, chaired by former Prosecutor General Kim Jin-tae. The five ex officio members include Kim Hyung-doo, Deputy Director of the Court Administration Office; Lee Jong-yeop, President of the Korean Bar Association; Han Ki-jung, Chairman of the Council of Law Schools; Jung Young-hwan, President of the Korean Law Professors Association; and Shin Ja-yong, Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice. The four non-ex officio members appointed are former Prosecutor General Kim Jin-tae as chairman, Kwon Young-jun, Senior Advisor of the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, Kwon Joon-soo, Professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Lee Woo-young, Professor at Seoul National University Law School.

Along with the formation of the Recommendation Committee, the Ministry of Justice will accept nominations for the Prosecutor General candidates from the public from the 12th to the 19th. Candidates must have at least 15 years of legal experience. Any Korean citizen can confidentially nominate a person they consider suitable for the Prosecutor General position in writing (excluding fax and email) to the Minister of Justice, specifying the reasons. After nominations, the Minister of Justice will shortlist candidates for review. The Minister may also directly propose candidates. The Recommendation Committee will then recommend at least three candidates to the Minister, who will nominate one of them to the President. If there are no disqualifications, the President will submit a request for a confirmation hearing to the National Assembly, where the Legislation and Judiciary Committee will conduct the hearing, and the President will make the final appointment.

Speculation is already circulating within the legal community. Inside the prosecution, names mentioned include Yeo Hwan-seop, Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute (24th class), Kim Hu-gon, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office (25th class), Noh Jeong-yeon, Chief Prosecutor of Busan High Prosecutors' Office (25th class), Lee Doo-bong, Chief Prosecutor of Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office (25th class), and Lee Won-seok, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (27th class). Outside the prosecution, former Seoul Eastern District Chief Prosecutor Han Chan-sik (21st class), former Judicial Research and Training Institute Directors Bae Seong-beom (23rd class) and Cho Nam-gwan (24th class) are also mentioned as candidates.

Among the candidates, it is reported that many have declined actual offers to become Prosecutor General, seemingly due to concerns about becoming a 'figurehead Prosecutor General.' Since his inauguration, Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon has conducted regular personnel reshuffles despite the absence of a Prosecutor General. Major investigations entrusted to the prosecution are currently being led by Deputy Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok as acting head, and significant progress has been made. However, concerns persist that the appointed Prosecutor General may not be able to effectively perform their duties. It is also analyzed that recruitment is difficult because most candidates are either contemporaries or seniors of Minister Han, who is from the 27th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute.

Meanwhile, Minister Han, after completing a seven-night, eight-day trip to the United States, tested positive for COVID-19 upon returning and will work from home in isolation until the 13th. It is expected that the Prosecutor General appointment process will accelerate from the 14th when Minister Han returns to the Ministry of Justice. On the 8th, Minister Han stated, "The procedure for appointing the Prosecutor General is prescribed by law and will proceed swiftly according to the established process."

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