Prosecutors' Mid-Level Executives Undergo 'Additional Personnel Changes'... Resignation Movements Emerge

14 Mid-Level Executives Transferred... Prosecutors Inside Say "Resignations Likely to Continue Until Appointments"

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Following personnel changes at the deputy chief and chief prosecutor levels, a wave of resignations among mid-level executives is continuing. On the 1st, the Ministry of Justice carried out personnel transfers to fill the vacancies.

On the same day, the Ministry of Justice announced personnel transfers for 14 mid-level executives. Six individuals, including Park Sang-jin, Chief of the Goyang Branch Office (29th Judicial Research and Training Institute class), who expressed their intention to resign immediately after the personnel changes on the 26th of last month, were processed as voluntary resignations. Additionally, six others, including Bae Seong-hoon, Head of the Criminal Division 1 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (32nd class), who submitted their resignations afterward, were transferred as part of the voluntary resignation process.

Following the largest-scale personnel changes in history, the successive resignations of mid-level executives have created a somewhat chaotic atmosphere within the prosecution. On the previous day, Lee Hye-eun, Chief Prosecutor in charge of investigation publicity at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (33rd class), posted on the internal prosecution network, "Due to personal reasons, I wish to leave the beloved prosecution," announcing her resignation.

On the same day, Ko Jin-won, Head of the Fair Trade Investigation Department at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (33rd class), posted, "There are many jokes about what the worst nightmare is, but for me, the worst nightmare was 'a dream where I am not a prosecutor,'" adding, "Just being a prosecutor was enough to fill my heart," before submitting his resignation.

In addition, Yang Jung-jin, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (29th class); Jo Jae-bin, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office (29th class); Lee Dong-su, Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office (30th class); Choi Woo-gyun, Chief of the Trial Department at the Goyang Branch Office (34th class); Hong Seong-jun, Head of the Women and Children Crime Investigation Department at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (34th class); Ryu Guk-ryang, Chief of the Trial Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (31st class); Lee Seon-hyeok, Chief of the Criminal Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (31st class); and Lim Dae-hyeok, Chief of the Criminal Division 13 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (32nd class) have also expressed their intention to resign.

Within the prosecution, there is speculation that additional prosecutors may submit their resignations before assuming their posts on the 4th. One chief prosecutor said, "Watching this personnel change, I once again felt how truly frightening personnel changes can be," adding, "Prosecutors are not attached to their positions, but personnel changes are the only reward for dedication to the organization, so it is bittersweet to see many prosecutors who worked hard in their roles leaving."