Major Overhaul After 7 Months
Investigation into Lee Seong-yoon's Alleged Collusion Between Prosecution and Media
One Chief Prosecutor's Conspiracy Charges Unproven
Partial Accountability Reflected
Jo Nam-gwan Transferred as Deputy Chief Prosecutor
"Prosecutor General Yoon's Hands and Feet Completely Tied"
[Asia Economy Reporters Baek Kyunghwan and Kim Hyungmin] The prosecution personnel reshuffle carried out by the Ministry of Justice on the 7th appears to be focused on Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol (60, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 23). There were personnel moves that seem to serve as mechanisms to further check the Prosecutor General.
The senior staff of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office were largely replaced again after seven months since the last change in January. Only Lee Jung-soo, Director of the Planning and Coordination Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (51, Class 26), retained his position. There is much analysis that the career path of Cho Nam-gwan, Director of the Prosecution Bureau at the Ministry of Justice (55, Class 24), who is promoted to Deputy Prosecutor General, should be closely watched. The new Deputy Prosecutor General Cho is regarded as a 'pro-government' prosecutor.
Lee Seong-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (58, Class 23), who was rumored to be promoted to High Prosecutor, remains in his current post. This seems to reflect the Ministry of Justice's intention to continue checking Prosecutor General Yoon. Attention is also focused on how the investigation into the 'media-prosecution collusion' allegations, which he has been leading, will proceed going forward.
◆ Lee Seong-yoon, who remains as Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Central District, to continue the media-prosecution collusion investigation? = Lee Seong-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, did not get promoted and will remain at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Initially, he was the only prosecutor at the chief prosecutor level among Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 23, so there were many expectations that he would be promoted to High Prosecutor this time, but it did not materialize for now.
His continued assignment to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is interpreted as a signal to continue leading major investigations while checking Prosecutor General Yoon.
Now, attention is focused on how he will continue the 'media-prosecution collusion' investigation involving Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon (47, Class 27), who is evaluated as a close aide to Prosecutor General Yoon. Recently, this investigation became 'half-finished' as it failed to prove Prosecutor Han's conspiracy charges, raising questions about Lee's competence as the lead investigator. It is also analyzed that this was a direct reason why he was not promoted to High Prosecutor this time.
The investigation team under Lee's command is reportedly pushing ahead with the investigation against Prosecutor Han despite the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee's recommendation to suspend the investigation.
Among the 'media-prosecution collusion' investigation team, only Lee Jung-hyun, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Central District Prosecutors' Office (Class 27), was promoted. He will move to the position of Head of the Public Investigation Department. On the other hand, Jung Jin-ung, Head of the Criminal Division 1 at the Central District Prosecutors' Office (Class 29), was excluded from promotion.
Inside and outside the prosecution, it is viewed that the investigation team was partly held responsible for failing to prove the conspiracy charges with Prosecutor Han, the core of the case, while prosecuting former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae and a junior reporter for attempted coercion. Moreover, Chief Jung was the person who got into a physical altercation with Prosecutor Han and is currently accused of official assault at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, with disciplinary action scheduled.
◆ Appointment of Cho Nam-gwan as Deputy Prosecutor General, a watchdog for Yoon? = Attention is also focused on the background of Cho Nam-gwan, Director of the Prosecution Bureau at the Ministry of Justice (55, Class 24), moving to the position of Deputy Prosecutor General.
He has a record of leading the investigation into the 'Yoo Jae-soo supervision cover-up' allegations during his time as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, but he is regarded as a 'pro-government' figure due to his close ties with current government-related personnel, having worked as the head of the Special Inspection Team in the Secretary's Office for Inspection during the Roh Moo-hyun administration.
Since January, he has served as Director of the Prosecution Bureau at the Ministry of Justice, supporting various prosecution reform measures promoted by Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, such as the separation of investigation and prosecution.
Considering this, appointing Director Cho as Deputy Prosecutor General likely reflects Minister Choo's intention to monitor Prosecutor General Yoon closely.
Legal circles say, "The Prosecutor General and the Deputy Prosecutor General are practically one body." This means they are so close that they can know each other's every move.
In such a position, Director Cho could report everything about Prosecutor General Yoon directly to the Ministry of Justice if he wished. Conversely, from Prosecutor General Yoon's perspective, Director Cho could be a burden no matter what he does. Regarding Director Cho's appointment, there is an analysis inside and outside the prosecution that "Prosecutor General Yoon's hands and feet are completely tied."
Meanwhile, Shim Jae-cheol, Head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (51, Class 27), was appointed as the new Director of the Prosecution Bureau at the Ministry of Justice. Before the personnel reshuffle, there was speculation that this position could be filled by a non-prosecutor, but that did not happen.
Deputy Prosecutor General Koo Bon-seon will move to become Chief Prosecutor of the Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office, and Kim Kwan-jung, Head of the Criminal Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, will move to become Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. Bae Yong-won, Head of the Public Investigation Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, will also move to become Chief Prosecutor of the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
