Concerns Raised Over 12 Senior Candidates for University President... Prosecution Seeks Breakthrough with 'Collective Leadership System'

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Lee Won-seok, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, who was nominated as the first Prosecutor General candidate under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, is seen commuting to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 19th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] With Lee Won-seok, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, who is seven ranks junior to the previous Prosecutor General, being nominated as the first Prosecutor General candidate under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, concerns have been raised that the prosecution may become younger in age. Lee, a member of the 27th Judicial Research and Training Institute class, has 12 senior frontline high prosecutors and chief prosecutors ahead of him. Accordingly, Lee is expected to overcome concerns about the younger age by effectively operating under a ‘collective leadership system.’

On the 22nd, voices from inside and outside the legal community expressed concerns that if juniors or peers become Prosecutor General and follow the prosecution’s unique culture of voluntary retirement, a collapse of the leadership could occur if they collectively resign. It is customary in the prosecution that when a junior or peer becomes Prosecutor General, others resign to avoid burdening the leadership.

Immediately after his nomination, Lee reportedly contacted senior high prosecutors and chief prosecutors directly to express his regret that a junior was nominated as Prosecutor General and conveyed a message asking them to stay in the prosecution and unite for organizational stability.

Within the prosecution, given Lee’s usual emphasis on communication, there is growing speculation that he will manage the organization by seeking advice from seniors and peers when important decisions need to be made.

Previously, when President Yoon Suk-yeol was appointed Prosecutor General directly from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office and seniors resigned en masse, some of Yoon’s senior peers and all of his classmates united to remain and support him.

Currently, there are six peers of Lee in senior prosecution positions, among whom only three are frontline chief prosecutors: Joo Young-hwan, Chief Prosecutor of Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office; Bae Yong-won, Chief Prosecutor of Cheongju District Prosecutors’ Office; and Lee Cheol-hee, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Busan High Prosecutors’ Office. Prosecutors Shin Sung-sik, Shim Jae-chul, and Lee Jung-hyun serve as research fellows at the Judicial Research and Training Institute and currently have no assigned posts.

If Lee’s seniors and peers resign, the impact on the prosecution is expected to be significant. With the so-called ‘Complete Abolition of Prosecutorial Investigation’ law (검수완박법) set to take effect on the 10th of next month and its ripple effects unpredictable, a leadership vacuum could cause major confusion. Although the Ministry of Justice has proposed an amendment to the enforcement decree for ‘restoring prosecutorial investigation rights’ in preparation for the law, opposition parties are fiercely criticizing it for undermining the legislative intent to restrict prosecutorial investigation rights. At this critical juncture, the leadership at the chief prosecutor level and above must serve as a rallying point and support for frontline prosecutors.

In particular, unresolved issues related to the Complete Abolition of Prosecutorial Investigation law, such as the ‘exclusion of complainant objection’ regulation in the enforcement decree amendment, remain, making an organized response from the prosecution necessary. Without clear countermeasures and with a younger leadership, confusion is expected to intensify.

In ongoing major investigations, Lee’s seniors and peers hold significant positions. The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office investigating the Moon Jae-in administration blacklist allegations, the Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office investigating allegations of irregular hiring at Eastar Jet involving former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik, and the Incheon, Gwangju, and Daegu District Prosecutors’ Offices, which have anti-corruption or violent crime divisions focusing on special investigations, drug crimes, and organized crime, are led by Lee’s seniors and peers.

If chief prosecutors specializing in special and violent crime investigations depart, the prosecution’s investigative capabilities are expected to be greatly weakened.

A senior prosecution official said, “All members of the prosecution know this is an important moment,” adding, “Seniors would not want the organization to fall into chaos.”

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