Prosecutor Mid-Level Executive Personnel Changes... Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office Ko Hyung-gon Retained as 4th Deputy Chief (Comprehensive)

Ko Hyung-gon, the current 4th Deputy Chief Prosecutor (Judicial Research and Training Institute class 31), has been reappointed as the 4th Deputy Chief Prosecutor, who leads major special investigations at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, the largest prosecution office in the country.

Seoul Seocho-gu Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office flag [Photo by Yonhap News]

Given the ongoing investigations into issues such as the Baekhyeon-dong development preferential treatment and North Korea remittance allegations involving Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, the money envelope scandal at the Democratic Party convention, and the 'Kim Man-bae false interview' case, this personnel decision appears to prioritize continuity in leadership.

On the 20th, the Ministry of Justice carried out new appointments and transfers for 667 prosecutors, including 631 prosecutors at the senior prosecutor level and 36 general prosecutors. The effective date of appointment is the 25th.

Kim Chang-jin, head of the prosecution division at the Ministry of Justice (class 31), was appointed as the 1st Deputy Chief Prosecutor, who leads the criminal investigation division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Kim Tae-eun, Public Investigation Planning Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (class 31), was appointed as the 3rd Deputy Chief Prosecutor, who will lead public investigations such as election and labor cases ahead of next year's general elections. Park Hyun-chul, spokesperson of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, who has been the 'voice' of the office in media relations, was appointed as the 2nd Deputy Chief Prosecutor.

Kang Baek-shin, head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 (class 34), was appointed as the head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 under the 4th Deputy Chief Prosecutor, responsible for investigating the 'Baekhyeon-dong preferential treatment' allegations. Kang also leads the special investigation team for the 'presidential election interference and public opinion manipulation case' at the Central District Prosecutors' Office. Choi Jae-hoon, Crime Information Officer 2 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (class 34), was appointed head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2, investigating the 'money envelope distribution allegations,' and Kim Yong-sik, deputy chief prosecutor at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (class 34), was appointed head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3, investigating former lawmaker Kwak Sang-do's '5 billion won bribery allegations.'

Um Hee-jun, head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 (class 32), moved to become Anti-Corruption Planning Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and Kim Young-chul, head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 (class 33), moved to become head of Anti-Corruption Division 1 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to support ongoing special investigations. The heads of the Public Investigation Divisions 1, 2, and 3 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office are Kim Jong-hyun, Criminal Policy Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (class 33), Jung Won-doo, head of the Public Investigation Division at Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (class 34), and Lim Sam-bin, head of the Public Investigation Division at Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office (class 34), respectively.

Kim Yeon-sil, head of the Violent Crime Investigation Division at Incheon District Prosecutors' Office (class 34), was assigned to lead the investigation into the 'Yoo Ah-in drug case' at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Yong Seong-jin, head of the Criminal Planning Division at the Ministry of Justice (class 33), was assigned as head of the Fair Trade Investigation Division, investigating the 'KT preferential treatment allegations.' Kim Jong-woo, head of the Policy Planning Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (class 33), was assigned as the Public Relations Officer responsible for investigation publicity at the Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Positions created by the prosecution organizational restructuring in May were also filled. Park Young-jin, 2nd Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (class 31), was appointed as Crime Information Planning Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, serving as the eyes and ears of the Prosecutor General. Ahn Byung-soo, deputy chief at Goyang Branch Office (class 32), was appointed as the Narcotics and Organized Crime Planning Officer. Lee Hee-dong, head of the Public Investigation Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (class 32), was appointed as Public Investigation Planning Officer.

Baek Moon-gi, head of Inspection Division 3 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (class 32), was appointed as the 2nd Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, known as the 'Yeouido Grim Reaper.' Dan Seong-han, head of the Financial and Securities Crime Joint Investigation Division at the Southern District Prosecutors' Office (class 32), moved to become the 2nd Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, succeeded by Ha Dong-woo, deputy chief prosecutor at Incheon District Prosecutors' Office (class 33).

Kang Sung-yong, Anti-Corruption Planning Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (class 31), was appointed as the 1st Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, which has been investigating the 'Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance allegations,' and Lee Jeong-seop, head of the Fair Trade Investigation Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (class 32), was appointed as the 2nd Deputy Chief Prosecutor.

This personnel reshuffle saw some deputy chief prosecutors from the Judicial Research and Training Institute class 33 promoted from chief prosecutors, some deputy chief prosecutors from class 37 promoted from deputy chief prosecutors, and some general prosecutors from class 38 newly appointed as deputy chief prosecutors.

The Ministry of Justice stated, "We aimed to fill vacancies at the senior prosecutor level caused by recent appointments and organizational restructuring at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to establish a system capable of properly performing the prosecution's fundamental role of protecting the public from crime and maintaining legal order." It added, "While conducting personnel transfers to invigorate the organization for swift and efficient handling of major issues, some prosecutors were retained to ensure continuity of work, strengthen expertise, and maintain stable organizational operations."