[Profile] Lee Won-seok, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office... Prosecutor Representative 'Special and Planning Expert'

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol (left) is talking with Lee Won-seok, Director of the Planning and Coordination Office, about the materials requested by lawmakers after the morning questioning session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the Supreme Prosecutors' Office held at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 17th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Lee Won-seok, Chief Prosecutor of Jeju District Prosecutors' Office (age 53, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 27), was appointed Deputy Prosecutor General (Senior Prosecutor General level) at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 18th.

Prosecutor Lee is regarded as a leading special investigation expert within the prosecution. He worked with President Yoon in 2007 on the Samsung slush fund and lobbying case, and from 2016 to 2017, as head of the Special Investigation Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, he investigated the Choi Soon-sil political scandal case, directly interrogated former President Park Geun-hye, and subsequently had her detained.

Born in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, Prosecutor Lee graduated from Joongdong High School and Seoul National University with a degree in Political Science. He passed the 37th Judicial Examination in 1995 and was commissioned as a prosecutor at the Eastern Branch of the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office. Since then, he has served as a prosecutor at Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, researcher at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Criminal Investigation Department, prosecutor at the Ministry of Justice Legal Affairs Office, deputy chief prosecutor of the Financial and Tax Investigation Division 3 at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, chief of the Criminal Division 2 at Jeju District Prosecutors' Office, chief of the Miryang Branch of Changwon District Prosecutors' Office, head of the Investigation Support Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, head of the Investigation Command Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, head of the Special Investigation Division 1 at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Later, in 2019, he was promoted to Director of the Planning and Coordination Department (Chief Prosecutor) at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, closely assisting then Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, now President. However, after the 'Cho Kuk investigation,' he was demoted to Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Suwon High Prosecutors' Office.

Within the prosecution, Prosecutor Lee is known for candidly speaking his mind even to his seniors. He is also praised for his expertise across all areas of prosecutorial work, including planning and investigation.

▲ Born May 14, 1969 ▲ Gwangju ▲ Joongdong High School ▲ Seoul National University, Department of Political Science ▲ Passed 37th Judicial Examination, completed Judicial Research and Training Institute (class 27) ▲ Eastern Branch of Seoul District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Seosan Branch of Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Busan District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Seoul District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Supreme Prosecutors' Office Criminal Investigation Department ▲ Ministry of Justice Legal Affairs Office ▲ Chief of Criminal Division 2, Jeju District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Chief of Miryang Branch, Changwon District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Head of Investigation Support Division, Supreme Prosecutors' Office ▲ Head of Investigation Command Division, Supreme Prosecutors' Office ▲ Head of Special Investigation Division 1, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Chief of Yeoju Branch, Suwon District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Head of Joint Investigation Team for Overseas Crime Proceeds Recovery ▲ Director of Planning and Coordination Department, Supreme Prosecutors' Office ▲ Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Suwon High Prosecutors' Office ▲ Chief Prosecutor, Jeju District Prosecutors' Office