[Profile] Kim Osu, Former Deputy Minister and Newly Appointed Prosecutor General... A Special Investigator Trusted by Moon Administration

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] On the 3rd, President Moon Jae-in nominated former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Oh-soo as the new Prosecutor General.

Former Vice Minister Kim is a representative special prosecutor within the prosecution. He is from Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do, graduated from Gwangju Daedong High School and Seoul National University, passed the 30th Judicial Examination, and began his career as a prosecutor in 1994 at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office.

Former Vice Minister Kim has served as Chief Prosecutor of the Trial Department at Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, Chief of Jangheung Branch of Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, Chief of the Special Investigation Division at Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, Chief Prosecutor of Criminal Division 5 at Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, Crime Information Officer 1 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Chief Prosecutor of Special Investigation Division 1 at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Chief of Wonju Branch of Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seongnam Branch of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, Prosecutor at Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Busan District Prosecutors' Office, Chief of Criminal Division at Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, Chief of Forensic Science Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and Chief Prosecutor at Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office.

In particular, in 2005, while serving as Chief Prosecutor of Criminal Division 5 at Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, he gained media attention by leading the investigation into the admission corruption case involving the wife of former Yonsei University President Jung Chang-young.

When he led the newly established Forensic Science Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2015, he is known to have laid the organizational foundation and formulated response strategies against advanced intelligent crimes. Besides the Yonsei University President's wife's admission corruption case, he has investigated cases such as bribery in Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering's supply and allegations of slush fund formation at Hyosung Group. Within the prosecution, he is regarded as having excellent interpersonal skills and outstanding leadership and command abilities.

He has consistently earned trust from the Moon Jae-in administration. While serving as Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, he was also mentioned as a successor candidate for the Financial Supervisory Service Governor after the incumbent resigned. Additionally, he has been repeatedly considered for high-ranking positions such as the inaugural Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office and Audit Committee Member of the Board of Audit and Inspection. He worked alongside former Ministers of Justice Park Sang-ki, Cho Kuk, and Choo Mi-ae, who served in the current administration. In 2019, he was also a final candidate for Prosecutor General.

◇ Career

▲1963 Born in Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do

▲Gwangju Daedong High School, Seoul National University, Department of Law

▲1988 Passed the 30th Judicial Examination

▲1991 20th Judicial Research and Training Institute

▲1994 Prosecutor at Incheon District Prosecutors' Office

▲Prosecutor at Jangheung Branch of Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, Prosecutor at Southern Branch of Seoul District Prosecutors' Office, Prosecutor at Busan District Prosecutors' Office, Research Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, Chief Prosecutor of the Trial Department at Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, Chief of Jangheung Branch of Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, Chief of Special Investigation Division at Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, Chief Prosecutor of Criminal Division 5 at Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, Crime Information Officer 1 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Chief Prosecutor of Special Investigation Division 1 at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Chief of Wonju Branch of Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seongnam Branch of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, Prosecutor at Seoul High Prosecutors' Office (dispatched to the Fair Trade Commission), First Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Busan District Prosecutors' Office, Chief of Criminal Division at Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, Chief of Forensic Science Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Chief Prosecutor at Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office

▲2017.8~2018.6 42nd Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute

▲2018.6~2020.4 Vice Minister of Justice