The First Prosecutor General of the Yoon Administration... What Is Han Dong-hoon's Choice?

‘Bulldozer’ Yeo Hwan-seop, Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute · ‘Deokjang’ Kim Hu-gon, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office
‘Perfectionist’ Lee Doo-bong, Chief Prosecutor of Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office · ‘Crisis Manager’ Lee Won-seok, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office
New Prosecutor General Four-Way Contest... Presidential Appointment Recommendation Expected as Early as Today

From the left, Yeo Hwan-seop, head of the Legal Research and Training Institute and considered the first Prosecutor General candidate of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, Kim Hu-gon, head of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, Lee Doo-bong, head of the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office, and Lee Won-seok, deputy prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Photo by Legal News

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] As the candidates for the first Prosecutor General under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration have emerged, attention is focused on who Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon will ultimately choose. The appointment of the new Prosecutor General, who will bear the heavy responsibility of overseeing the constitutional review of the “Prosecution Reform Act” effective from the 10th of next month, as well as investigations into allegations of misconduct by the previous administration, is drawing significant interest.

The Ministry of Justice’s Prosecutor General Candidate Recommendation Committee held a meeting on the 16th and recommended four candidates out of nine nominees to Minister Han: Yeo Hwan-seop, Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute (54, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 24), Kim Hu-gon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office (57, Class 25), Lee Doo-bong, Chief Prosecutor of the Daejeon High Prosecutors’ Office (58, Class 25), and Lee Won-seok, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office (53, Class 27).

Inside and outside the prosecution, all four recommended candidates are regarded as suitable for the position of Prosecutor General. Minister Han is expected to select one of them as the final candidate and recommend the appointment to President Yoon Seok-yeol. Once the candidate passes the National Assembly’s confirmation hearing, the appointment will be finalized. It is reported that Minister Han may recommend one candidate to President Yoon as early as the 17th.

Director Yeo is well-known for his expertise in special investigations, having served as head of the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the Central Investigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. He led the indictment of former lawmaker Lee Sang-deuk in 2012, former National Intelligence Service Director Won Sei-hoon in 2013, and headed the investigation team for the Kim Hak-ui villa sexual bribery case in 2019. Director Yeo is not classified as part of the “Yoon Seok-yeol faction,” which helps him avoid criticism of bias. If appointed Prosecutor General, it is expected that investigations into allegations of misconduct by the previous administration and other special investigations will gain momentum.

Chief Prosecutor Kim also has a strong background in special investigations, having served as head of the Special 1 Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office and as a senior anti-corruption researcher at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. Like Director Yeo, Chief Prosecutor Kim is not considered part of the Yoon faction. In March last year, when the Democratic Party pushed for the prosecution reform law, then Prosecutor General Yoon, who later became president, called the reform “complete corruption” and voluntarily resigned without a separate retirement ceremony. During this time, Chief Prosecutor Kim personally contacted heads of the Financial and Economic Crime Division to organize a farewell event for Yoon at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office building.

Chief Prosecutor Kim is known for his gentle personality and enjoys strong trust among prosecution members. Especially during the prosecution reform controversy, his active opposition strengthened the confidence of the members in him, which is a major advantage. If appointed Prosecutor General, it is expected that he will focus on organizational stability and management.

Chief Prosecutor Lee, who led the investigation into allegations of economic evaluation manipulation at the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant, is regarded as a principled and resolute figure. He is known as a stickler who gives meticulous and detailed work instructions. Chief Prosecutor Lee is a descendant of Lee Jun, a martyr who served as a prosecutor at the Pyeongriwon, the highest judicial institution of the Korean Empire.

Having served as the 1st and 4th Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office and as head of the Scientific Investigation Department at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, Chief Prosecutor Lee assisted then Prosecutor General Yoon. If appointed Prosecutor General, he is expected to lead efforts to eradicate crimes affecting the public and conduct investigations in line with the current administration’s priorities, working smoothly with the government.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee is highly regarded for excellence in investigation, planning, and administration. Within the prosecution, there is a saying, “There is no problem or flaw in anything Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee does.” Currently serving as acting Prosecutor General, he is leading efforts to normalize the previously abnormal organization.

If Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee becomes Prosecutor General, it is expected that the changes made in the prosecution over the past three months will be maintained, dispelling concerns about a “figurehead Prosecutor General.” For this reason, he is considered the most likely candidate for appointment among the nominees.