Ministry of Justice to Announce Prosecutor Personnel Changes This Week... Senior Positions Likely to Be Adjusted by New Minister

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The Ministry of Justice is set to carry out personnel changes for ordinary prosecutors as early as the 21st. While high-ranking personnel changes have traditionally taken place before those for ordinary prosecutors, this year they are expected to occur after the inauguration of Park Beom-gye, the nominee for Minister of Justice, due to variables such as the ministerial replacement.

According to the legal community on the 19th, the Ministry of Justice held a Prosecutor Personnel Committee meeting at the Gwacheon Government Complex on the same day and decided on the principles for personnel changes of ordinary prosecutors effective February 1.

The Ministry of Justice had been compiling the list of ordinary prosecutors for personnel changes by referring to the service evaluations of prosecutors completed in early last month. This was to reflect preferences for future assignments included in the service evaluations, establishing a personnel plan based on so-called 'trend exchanges' and the principle of personnel exchanges between the metropolitan area and provinces. In particular, applying the preferential policy for the Criminal Division and Trial Division maintained since Minister Choo Mi-ae's inauguration, prosecutors who diligently performed their basic duties were selected for key departments. Additionally, the Ministry plans to actively reflect the personnel preferences of excellent prosecutors recommended by heads of frontline institutions, respecting their personnel opinions.

Minister Choo is expected to step down after completing this round of ordinary prosecutor personnel changes. According to the Ministry of Justice's regulations on 'Prosecutor Transfers and Position Management,' the parties must be notified at least 10 days before the personnel appointment date. Even if it is difficult to comply with this, the special circumstances must be announced in advance.

The variable lies in high-ranking executive personnel changes. Although the Personnel Committee had designated the regular personnel changes for ordinary prosecutors as effective February 1 regardless of the ministerial replacement, high-ranking personnel changes may vary depending on the timing of the new Minister of Justice's inauguration. Regarding the personnel changes, nominee Park stated, "The authority for personnel appointments of prosecutors lies with the President, and the Minister of Justice has the right to propose and is supposed to consult with the Prosecutor General. I am still just a nominee preparing for the confirmation hearing," refraining from giving a specific stance.

However, considering that he publicly mentioned 'consultation with the Prosecutor General,' it can be interpreted that he intends to personally review at least the high-ranking personnel changes after the confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on the 25th. Within the prosecution, opinions are emerging that the new minister should carefully consider the high-ranking personnel who will lead the organizational restructuring necessary due to the strengthening of the Trial Division and the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police.

Another variable is that this will be Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's last regular personnel change. Since Yoon's term ends in July this year, the extent to which the 'consultation with the Prosecutor General' mentioned by nominee Park will be realized is crucial. Specifically, the biggest interest lies in whether prosecutors involved in the investigation, such as Lee Doo-bong, head of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, who is leading the investigation into the 'alleged manipulation of the economic feasibility evaluation of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1,' will be transferred. It is also expected that executives who signed critical statements, including Cho Nam-gwan, Deputy Prosecutor General, who previously officially requested reconsideration of disciplinary action and suspension against Prosecutor General Yoon, will be subject to personnel changes. Additionally, whether Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon, involved in the controversy over abuse of authority, and Deputy Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office will be transferred is also a matter of interest.