Shin Jayong Appointed as Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office... Kwon Soonjung Named Prosecutor General Among the 'Prosecution Big 4'

Both Individuals Have Work Ties with Yoon... Han Dong-hoon, the Closest Aide to the Emergency Committee Chairman

Shin Ja-yong, Director of the Ministry of Justice's Prosecution Bureau (age 52, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 28), has been appointed to the vacant position of Deputy Prosecutor General at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office following the resignation of former Deputy Minister of Justice Ino Gong. Kwon Soon-jung, Director of the Planning and Coordination Office at the Ministry of Justice (age 51, class 29), will take over as Director of the Prosecution Bureau. Director Kwon will also serve as acting Director of the Planning and Coordination Office until a successor is appointed.

Shin Ja-yong, Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice, appointed as Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 22nd, the Ministry of Justice announced personnel transfers involving two prosecutors at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office level, effective from the 24th. The Ministry explained that this was to promptly fill the vacancy of the Deputy Prosecutor General caused by the inauguration of the new Deputy Minister of Justice Shim Woo-jung (age 53, class 26) and to carry out subsequent personnel adjustments accordingly.

The Deputy Prosecutor General at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office is a position that closely assists the Prosecutor General and is known as the 'second-in-command' of the prosecution. The Director of the Prosecution Bureau oversees personnel and budget matters within the prosecution and is considered one of the 'Big Four' key positions in the prosecution.

Director Shin is regarded as a leading 'special investigation expert' within the prosecution. He worked closely with President Yoon Seok-youl on the 2016-2017 'State Affairs Manipulation' special investigation team. When President Yoon was the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and Han Dong-hoon, the People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman, was the third deputy prosecutor at the Central District Prosecutors' Office, Shin served as the head of the Special Investigation Division 1, handling practical investigations into deep-rooted corruption during the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye administrations.

Having served as the head of the Policy Planning Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and as the head of the Prosecution Division at the Ministry of Justice, he is recognized for his expertise not only in investigations but also in planning. After serving as the first deputy prosecutor at the Central District Prosecutors' Office, Director Shin was demoted to a provincial post following the investigation into the family of Cho Kuk. He also led the general team preparing for the confirmation hearing when Chairman Han was nominated as Minister of Justice.

Kwon Soon-jung, Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Justice, appointed as Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Director Kwon served as the spokesperson for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2019 when President Yoon was Prosecutor General. He also led the public relations team for the confirmation hearing preparation when Chairman Han was nominated as Minister of Justice.

After serving as head of the Legal Affairs Division and the Prosecution Division at the Ministry of Justice, and as spokesperson for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Director Kwon was demoted due to the investigation into the family of Cho Kuk and worked in provincial offices as deputy chief prosecutor at Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office and head of the Western Branch of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office. In 2022, he was promoted to Director of the Planning and Coordination Office at the Ministry of Justice. During his tenure as head of the Criminal Division 2 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, he handled the re-investigation of the humidifier disinfectant case and investigations related to the osteoarthritis treatment drug Invossa-K.

With both individuals moving to the positions of Deputy Prosecutor General and Director of the Prosecution Bureau, there is analysis suggesting that they may be emerging as leading candidates for the next Prosecutor General.