Prosecutor Personnel Announcement on the 25th... Minor Changes Expected for High Prosecutor-Level Positions

Government Gwacheon Government Complex, Ministry of Justice. / Photo by Choi Seok-jin

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The upcoming prosecutorial personnel reshuffle scheduled for early next month is expected to see only a slight change in the appointments of prosecutors at the senior prosecutor level. The personnel changes will be announced on the 25th, effective from the 7th of next month.

On the morning of the 21st, the Ministry of Justice held a Prosecutorial Personnel Committee meeting at the Government Complex Gwacheon, where they deliberated for about an hour on the principles and criteria for the appointment of ordinary prosecutors.

The Personnel Committee decided to minimize the scope of personnel changes related to senior prosecutor-level appointments, limiting them to filling vacancies caused by the newly established positions from this year's organizational restructuring, replacements of prosecutors dispatched to external agencies, resignations, and other unavoidable personnel demands.

However, the existing personnel policy that favors prosecutors who have dedicated themselves to protecting human rights and handling criminal and trial work directly related to public welfare, while maintaining organizational stability within the prosecution, will remain unchanged.

Regarding ordinary prosecutor appointments, regular personnel changes will be conducted for prosecutors who have fulfilled the mandatory service period, based on personnel principles such as the 'principle of regional exchange' and 'dispersed placement by regional prosecution offices.' Prosecutors who have diligently performed the prosecution's core duties will be selected for key departments, and personnel opinions from frontline agency heads will be reflected to ensure balanced appointments across all regional offices nationwide.

Additionally, institutionalized long-term service systems such as the long-term service system for childbirth and childcare purposes and the long-term service system within the same senior prosecution office region will be broadly applied. Individual hardships due to illness, childbirth, childcare, and other personal circumstances will also be maximally considered in personnel decisions.

A large number of outstanding prosecutors will be assigned to the newly established Namyangju branch of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, which will be inaugurated this March.

The Personnel Committee consists of a total of 11 members, including one chairman, current prosecutors, judges, lawyers, law professors, and non-legal professionals with academic knowledge and integrity.

Recently, following instructions from Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye, the Ministry of Justice initiated a public recruitment process to appoint an external expert on major disasters as a chief prosecutor, which sparked controversy. However, after an emergency dinner meeting with Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo the day before, Minister Park decided to halt the appointment process.