"Proper Personnel" vs "Rogue Regime": Ruling and Opposition Parties Intensify Conflict over 'Prosecutor Personnel'

Prosecutor Personnel Changes on the 8th...Major Overhaul of 'Yoon Seok-yeol's Aides'

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl had a meeting lasting about 40 minutes on the 7th at the Ministry of Justice in the Gwacheon Government Complex.
Minister Choo Mi-ae, returning to the Ministry of Justice building ahead of her meeting with Prosecutor General Yoon after finishing an external schedule (left photo). Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl entering the Ministry of Justice building to visit Minister Choo Mi-ae. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Heo Midam] Political reactions were divided over Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's first personnel reshuffle in the prosecution. The ruling party welcomed it as a "proper personnel reshuffle," while the opposition showed an intense response, calling the Moon Jae-in administration a "reckless regime."

On the 8th, the Ministry of Justice held a prosecution personnel committee meeting and carried out promotions and transfers of 32 senior prosecutors at the level of chief prosecutors in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, effective from the 13th. This reshuffle led to a large-scale replacement of the aides who supported Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl.

Han Dong-hoon, head of the Anti-Corruption and Serious Crimes Division who led investigations into former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's family corruption and the Blue House's cover-up allegations, was transferred to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Busan High Prosecutors' Office. Park Chan-ho, head of the Public Investigation Division in charge of the Blue House election interference allegations, was transferred to Chief Prosecutor of Jeju District Prosecutors' Office. In addition, all aides in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office except the head of the Inspection Headquarters were replaced.

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is responding to questions from lawmakers at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News

The ruling and opposition parties showed starkly different positions on Minister Choo's first prosecution personnel reshuffle. On the morning of the 9th, Lee In-young, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly, "I highly appreciate the personnel reshuffle that prioritized prosecutors from the criminal and trial divisions, which make up the vast majority of the prosecution organization, balancing the personnel composition that was previously concentrated in a specific network."

Lee emphasized, "The behavior shown by the prosecution during the personnel process was very inappropriate," adding, "The authority to appoint prosecutors lies with the President, and the recommendation authority lies with the Minister of Justice. According to Article 34 of the Prosecutors' Office Act, the Prosecutor General can express opinions on personnel matters, but the final personnel plan is established and recommended by the Minister as their inherent authority."

Hong Ik-pyo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, also said on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that it was a "proper personnel reshuffle" and that "the scale was expected to be around this level."

He further expressed that dismantling the Supreme Prosecutors' Office aides known as the 'Yoon Seok-youl faction' was natural, criticizing, "Personnel appointments that create factional groups centered on specific individuals, like the Hanahoe of the Chun Doo-hwan faction or similar private organizations, are very inappropriate."

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Jae-jung also responded positively to the prosecution personnel reshuffle. On CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' he evaluated Minister Choo's personnel reshuffle as "a personnel reshuffle with fairness and balance, departing from the previous personnel centered on specific departments."

Lee said, "Many internal members of the prosecution will agree with the positive aspect that it was a personnel reshuffle that broke away from the unbalanced personnel framework where promotion lines were decided within specific departments."

The photo shows Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol (from the left), Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kang Nam-il, Head of the Anti-Corruption and Serious Crimes Division Han Dong-hoon, and other prosecution officials visiting the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 2nd, heading towards the Memorial Tower to pay their respects. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the other hand, the opposition strongly opposed the 'Choo Mi-ae style' prosecution personnel reshuffle.

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, criticized, "The sudden personnel reshuffle of senior prosecutors in the Moon Jae-in administration is a purge close to a political disaster," adding, "We will never forget the reckless abuse of power by the Moon Jae-in administration."

He said, "It is an attempt to neutralize investigations into the President's close aides," and "It is the neutralization of the prosecution to complete the 'pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in) unified system.' We will never forget the reckless abuse of power by the Moon Jae-in administration."

Sim Jae-chul, floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party, also called the Moon administration a "reckless regime," stating, "President Moon and Minister Choo deserve impeachment. This personnel reshuffle is illegal as it disregards the Prosecutors' Office Act, which requires the Minister to recommend to the President after hearing the Prosecutor General's opinion."

He added, "President Moon and Minister Choo will be recorded in history as criminals who abused their authority and obstructed prosecution investigations," and warned, "The Liberty Korea Party will file criminal charges against Minister Choo for obstruction of prosecution duties and abuse of authority."

Lawmaker Joo Ho-young of the Liberty Korea Party also criticized Minister Choo's prosecutor personnel reshuffle. On MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' he said, "As the investigative blade approaches the living power more closely, this personnel reshuffle is to block it," and claimed, "The Blue House's intention is to express no confidence in Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl."