Kim Suhyun, Tongyeong Branch Chief, Resigns Saying "Firmly Oppose the Kusuwanbak Bill"... Urges Han Donghoon for 'Fair Personnel'

Second Following the Previous Day's Deputy Chief Prosecutor I Bok-hyun

Kim Suhyun, Chief of Tongyeong Branch.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Kim Su-hyun, Chief Prosecutor of the Tongyeong Branch of Changwon District Prosecutors' Office (age 52, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 30), expressed his intention to resign on the 14th in protest against the Democratic Party's push to forcibly advance the 'Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Authority (Geomsu Wanbak)' legislation.

This is the second resignation of a senior prosecutor following the previous day’s resignation of Lee Bok-hyun, Chief Prosecutor of the Criminal Division 2 at Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (age 50, class 32), who resigned for the same reason, asking, "Please let us know the President's position on the Geomsu Wanbak policy."

In his resignation message posted on the prosecutors' internal network 'Eprose' that morning, Kim said, "I am firmly opposed to the so-called 'Geomsu Wanbak' bill and wish to resign," adding, "I feel a thorough sense of helplessness as the prosecution is no longer becoming the prosecution, and I have chosen resignation as the only form of resistance I can take."

He stated, "I am well aware that I am not in a position or on a subject worthy of taking meaningful responsibility, and I fully recognize that resigning alone may be irresponsible and meaningless," but lamented, "There is no reason to maintain this position as a prosecutor in name only, and I cannot endure the shame of leaving behind an organization that is just a shell to my juniors."

He continued, "I deplore that no one is taking responsibility as the situation has reached this point," and urged, "I call for decisive action from those responsible for the prosecution’s past, present, and future."

Meanwhile, through a 'postscript,' Kim Su-hyun requested Han Dong-hoon, newly nominated as Minister of Justice and Deputy Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, to make a 'fair personnel appointment.'

He said, "It may not be appropriate to say this as I am leaving, but I would like to earnestly ask the newly appointed minister candidate," adding, "Please avoid personnel appointments biased toward a specific faction that could be called 'Yun Hae-gwan' prosecutors, justified by reasons such as restoring honor due to damage suffered under the previous administration or because of outstanding ability, so as not to create the risk of internal division in addition to the external shackles of Geomsu Wanbak. I sincerely request a reasonable and fair personnel appointment that all internal members can acknowledge and accept as the last plea."

Kim Su-hyun passed the 40th Judicial Examination and began his public service career in 2001 as a prosecutor at Seoul District Prosecutors' Office. In 2018, he served as head of the Public Criminal Investigation Division at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, investigating the 'Samsung union disruption conspiracy allegations.' He later served as head of the Policy Planning Division at the Ministry of Justice and chief of the Criminal Division 1 at Busan District Prosecutors' Office before moving to his current position as chief prosecutor of the Tongyeong Branch of Changwon District Prosecutors' Office last year.