From Junior Prosecutors to Chiefs: Uproar Erupts Over 'Forgoing Appeal' Decision, Signs of Prosecution Revolt

Prosecution Forgoes Appeal in Daejang-dong First Trial,
Internal Dissent Emerges
Norman Seok: "The Decision Not to Appeal Was Made Under My Responsibility"

Immediately after the prosecution decided to 'forgo an appeal' in the Daejang-dong private developer case at midnight on November 7, a series of posts expressing opposition appeared on the prosecution's internal network, E-Pros, from investigation and trial staff, rookie prosecutors, and senior officials alike. Alongside criticism that the prosecution had 'closed the door on recovering criminal proceeds worth several hundred billion won,' there were direct calls for disclosure of the decision-making process and for the leadership to be held accountable.

Norman Seok, Acting Prosecutor General, is arriving at the Seoul Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 10th. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the legal community on November 10, Kim Youngseok, Inspector General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, who was in charge of the Daejang-dong investigation and trial, wrote on E-Pros on November 9, "Has there ever been a precedent in the history of the prosecution where an appeal was forgone in a case where some defendants were acquitted and a massive amount of forfeiture was not imposed?" He added, "The first-instance court acquitted the defendants of violating the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act based solely on similar legal precedents and did not order forfeiture. By forgoing the appeal, we lost the opportunity to have a higher court review key issues regarding the violation of the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act, such as the timing of acquiring property benefits."

He continued, "I do not understand what comprehensive and in-depth standards the Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office considered so late into Friday night, nor do I understand why the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office reversed his decision after approving the appeal rationale prepared by the investigation and trial team for the Prosecution Review Committee, especially after 11:30 p.m. on Friday. At midnight on November 8, 2025, the prosecution-and the truth-died."

Previously, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office did not appeal the first-instance verdict for Yoo Donggyu, former head of planning at Seongnam Development Corporation, and other members of the so-called 'Daejang-dong group.' All five defendants appealed. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, if only the defendant appeals, the principle of 'prohibition of disadvantageous changes' applies, meaning a harsher sentence cannot be imposed. The prosecution had demanded the forfeiture of the entire 788.6 billion won in illicit gains at the first trial, but the court only ordered the forfeiture of 47.332 billion won in bribe money.

Kang Baeksin, a prosecutor at the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office who led the Daejang-dong investigation and trial team, also posted on the internal network, stating, "It is absolutely essential to seek a higher court's judgment on legal misunderstandings and factual errors as grounds for appeal in parts where some acquittals were rendered." He emphasized, "Above all, the biggest problem is recovering criminal proceeds of astronomical amounts. By forgoing the appeal, it has become impossible to recover even a single won from Nam Wook and Jung Younghak, and in the case of Kim Manbae, only one-tenth of the originally anticipated amount was ordered for forfeiture, yet we have no choice but to accept this."

Park Kyungtaek, head of the 5th Criminal Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, also posted on the internal network. He said, "As the division chief responsible for maintaining the prosecution, I concluded that an appeal was justified, but I am sorry to my fellow prosecutors for failing to see it through. Until the appeal deadline of November 7, there was no contact from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, but I believed approval would be granted as a matter of course, so I stamped the final approval on the appeal documents and had staff on standby at the court." He continued, "I was told that the Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office ordered the appeal to be dropped and that the Chief Prosecutor also decided to forgo the appeal. After waiting for more than two full days with nothing but requests to be patient, I cannot help but question whether it shows any respect for the prosecutor responsible for the decision-making when the instruction to forgo the appeal was given unilaterally just hours before the deadline."

A rookie prosecutor also joined in. Chun Younghwan, a prosecutor at the Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office, wrote, "Why did the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office oppose the unanimous decision by the investigation and trial prosecutors to file an appeal?" He added, "I call for the resignation of the Minister of Justice and the top leadership of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office for their acts of betrayal against the public." He also wrote, "Why are the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, whose duty is to protect the public through law and due process, seeking to protect certain individuals from the law and the courts?"

A strong message from a senior prosecutor was also confirmed. Park Youngjin, a research fellow at the Legal Research and Training Institute and former Jeonju District Prosecutor, reportedly sent a text message to Norman Seok, Acting Prosecutor General, and other prosecution leaders, urging them to "resign."

Jung Jinwoo, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, stated, "The authority of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office must be followed and respected," but added, "I made it clear that the opinion of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office differs, and I expressed my intention to resign to take responsibility for this situation." Norman Seok, Acting Prosecutor General, stated, "After consulting with the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, I decided, after careful consideration and under my own responsibility, that it was appropriate not to appeal."