[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 23rd, the Ministry of Justice appointed Lee Jeong-su, the current head of the Policy Coordination Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, as the new chief prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office. This came just one day after the previous chief prosecutor, Park Soon-cheol, tendered his resignation.
In the afternoon, the Ministry of Justice announced, "To ensure there is no gap in the independent investigation command system related to the Lime Asset Management scandal, we have accepted the resignation of Park Soon-cheol, chief prosecutor of the Southern District Prosecutors' Office, and transferred Lee Jeong-su, head of the Policy Coordination Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, as his successor." Prosecutor Lee will now oversee the remaining investigations into the Lime Asset Management fund fraud case, allegations of prosecutor misconduct exposed by former Star Mobility chairman Kim Bong-hyun, and investigations into lobbying suspicions involving opposition politicians.
Prosecutor Lee, appointed head of the Policy Coordination Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office during the first prosecution personnel reshuffle after Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae took office in January, was dispatched to the National Intelligence Service in 2017?2018 during the early period of the current administration. There, he served as legal advisor to the director of the National Intelligence Service and as chief prosecutor of the 'Anti-Corruption Task Force.' Born in Seoul, he graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in law and has held positions including head of the Advanced Crime Investigation Divisions 1 and 2 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, director of the Criminal Justice Common System Operation Team at the Ministry of Justice, policy officer for investigation information at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and head of the Bucheon branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office.
Previously, former chief prosecutor Park criticized Minister Choo's recent exercise of investigative command authority on the prosecution's internal communication network, stating "politics has overwhelmed the prosecution," and tendered his resignation. Minister Choo expressed regret and announced a forthcoming personnel reshuffle. Upon issuing the appointment, Minister Choo urged, "The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office should, under the leadership of the new chief prosecutor, remain unwaveringly independent from the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and political circles, focusing solely on the people and dedicating itself to a swift and thorough uncovering of the truth."
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