Eunjung Lim Warns Against Repeating Moon Administration's Failures Over Appointment of Special Investigations Expert as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs

Eunjung Lim, Chief Prosecutor at Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, Comments on Personnel Appointments
"Rumors of Former Prosecutor Appointed as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and Secretary for Civil Affairs Cause Unease"
"Although the Administration Has Changed, the Ministry of Justice and Supreme Prosecutors' Office Remain the Same as Under Yoon"

With the appointment of Oh Kwangsoo, a former prosecutor from the Special Investigation Division, as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Presidential Office, Eunjung Lim, Chief Prosecutor at the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, expressed concern, stating, "Rumors about the appointment of a former prosecutor as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and as Secretary for Civil Affairs are causing both excitement within the prosecution and unease outside of it." On June 8, Lim wrote on social media, "Although the Yoon Suk-yeol administration has changed to the Lee Jaemyung administration, the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office remain as they were under Yoon Suk-yeol."

Eunjung Lim, Chief Prosecutor at Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office. Asia Economy DB

Lim continued, "When the Park Geun-hye administration changed to the Moon Jae-in administration, I was happy, thinking that the winds had finally shifted. However, I was greatly disappointed by the personnel appointments within the prosecution. It was clear that prosecution reform would only be superficial," she said. "Although it was difficult, I resolved to continue on the path of a whistleblower, filed lawsuits against the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution under the Moon Jae-in administration, and reported senior officials such as the Prosecutor General and chief prosecutors from that period. I wanted to reveal at least part of the reality of a Ministry of Justice and prosecution lacking self-purifying capabilities to the public, so that external forces could help correct it."

She added, "Now that the Yoon Suk-yeol prosecution regime has collapsed through impeachment and the entire nation has witnessed the prosecution's runaway actions, this is truly the time when the prosecution can be changed," and continued, "The wind will soon blow, and I am waiting for it with joy." She also emphasized, "I sincerely hope that the failures in personnel appointments within the prosecution that occurred during the Moon Jae-in administration will not be repeated."

Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff to the President, announced the appointments of the Senior Secretaries for Political Affairs, Public Relations, and Civil Affairs on the 8th at the Yongsan Presidential Office. From left to right: Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs; Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff; Oh Kwangsoo, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs; Lee Kyuyeon, Senior Secretary for Public Relations and Communication. Photo by Yonhap News

On June 8, the Presidential Office appointed Oh Kwangsoo, known as a 'special investigations expert' within the prosecution, as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs. Oh Kwangsoo, the new Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, is from the 18th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute and is a classmate of President Lee. He previously served as Head of the 2nd Division of the Central Investigation Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Head of the Special Investigation Division 2 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Chief Prosecutor at the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office. Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff to the President, stated, "Senior Secretary Oh is a former prosecutor who is highly respected both inside and outside the prosecution for his outstanding drive and character," and added, "In particular, he is someone who deeply understands President Lee's philosophy on prosecution reform and will support the president's commitment to prosecution reform."

Previously, when Oh's name was mentioned as a candidate for Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, some within the ruling party expressed concern that the momentum for prosecution reform could be weakened. Seo Youngkyo, a Democratic Party lawmaker running in the upcoming floor leader election, said in an interview on MBC Radio's 'Kwon Soonpyo's News High Kick' on June 6, "There may be trust because he is a classmate of the president, but it is also necessary to thoroughly consider the fact that he worked with Yoon Suk-yeol and others."

Hwang Unha, a lawmaker from the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, which joined forces with the Democratic Party during the presidential election, also opposed the appointment, saying, "Oh is a special investigations expert with previous working ties to Yoon Suk-yeol, and it will be difficult for him to break away from the close-knit relationships unique to the special investigations prosecutors. He can never be the right person for prosecution reform."

As a result, it is reported that the appointments of aides, including Senior Secretary Oh, were discussed during a dinner between President Lee and the Democratic Party leadership on June 7. Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik addressed concerns about appointing a special investigations expert from the prosecution, stating, "President Lee is the greatest victim of political prosecutors. Judicial reform is achieved through legislation, and I have also confirmed Senior Secretary Oh's commitment to judicial reform. We will ensure that those who have concerns will have nothing to worry about."

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