President Lee Won-seok: "Personnel matters are personnel matters, investigations are investigations"... No response to questions about personnel issues

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok stated on the 14th, "Personnel matters are personnel matters, and investigations are investigations," expressing that even if the investigation leadership is replaced, there will be no disruption to the investigation into First Lady Kim Geon-hee.

However, when asked about his stance on the recent appointment of chief prosecutors made the previous day, he refrained from commenting, saying, "I will not comment."

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok is answering reporters' questions about the personnel changes from the previous day on the morning of the 14th at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

On his way to work that morning, Lee responded to reporters' question asking, "Is there a halt in the investigation policy regarding First Lady Kim Geon-hee?" by saying, "No matter which chief prosecutor comes, we will work together with the investigation team and conduct the investigation strictly according to evidence and legal principles without any other considerations."

He added, "I trust our prosecutors, the investigation team," and reiterated, "Personnel matters are personnel matters, and investigations are investigations."

However, when asked whether the investigation into the First Lady would be concluded within his term, he avoided a direct answer, stating, "As Prosecutor General and a public official, I will fulfill the duties and responsibilities assigned to me. Nothing more, nothing less."

Regarding the question, "Was there sufficient prior consultation with you about the prosecutor appointments made yesterday?" Lee replied, "I will not say more about the chief prosecutor appointments made yesterday."

When asked if it was correct to understand that he was not informed about the scale or timing of the personnel changes, he said, "That is not something I can comment on." Also, in response to questions about when the follow-up appointments would be made, he said, "That is something I do not know."

Although Lee did not provide specific answers, his solemn expression suggested that he had much to say about the personnel changes but was restraining himself. Especially notable was his response to questions about the timing of follow-up appointments, where instead of saying "I cannot comment" or "It has not been decided yet," he said it was something he did not know, implying that he did not have significant influence over the timing, details, or announcement of these personnel changes.

When asked about rumors of conflict with the Yongsan Presidential Office, Lee again avoided a direct answer, saying, "That is not something I can comment on." He also reiterated that he would not say more about the scale or timing of the personnel changes.

Within prosecutorial circles, it is speculated that although consultations between Lee and the Ministry of Justice took place over the past weekend before the sudden high-ranking prosecutor appointments, Lee's opinions were likely not given significant weight.

In the appointments made the previous day, the entire leadership of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which had been directing the investigation into First Lady Kim Geon-hee, was replaced.

Song Kyung-ho, who had been the chief prosecutor overseeing the investigation, was promoted to Chief Prosecutor of the Busan High Prosecutors' Office; Kim Chang-jin, the First Deputy Chief Prosecutor who led the investigation into the First Lady's luxury handbag case, was promoted to Planning Director at the Prosecutor Training Institute, a position equivalent to chief prosecutor; and Ko Hyung-gon, the Fourth Deputy Chief Prosecutor who led the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation investigation, was promoted to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office.

Although these were promotions on the surface, all three were transferred to positions unrelated to direct investigation leadership, leading to criticism that these were "demotion promotions." It has been interpreted that President Yoon Seok-youl's dissatisfaction or distrust toward the current investigation team handling cases related to the First Lady was reflected in these personnel changes.

Meanwhile, regarding the cancellation of all his scheduled provincial business trips following the personnel announcement the previous day, Lee denied speculation about his possible resignation.

When asked, "Can it be understood that you will serve out the remainder of your term?" he said, "As a public official and Prosecutor General, I will fulfill the duties and responsibilities assigned to me."