Former Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute Bae Seong-beom (62, Judicial Research Institute Class 23), who oversaw investigations related to Cho Kuk, leader of the Innovation Party and former Minister of Justice, during his tenure as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, is joining the law firm YK.
According to the legal community on the 24th, former Director Bae is expected to serve as the lead attorney of the newly launched "Criminal General Group" at law firm YK.
Bae, originally from Changwon, Gyeongnam, graduated from Masan High School in Gyeongnam and Seoul National University Law School, and was commissioned as a prosecutor in 1994. He has served as head of the Violent Crimes Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Chief Prosecutor of Changwon District Prosecutors' Office, and Chief Prosecutor of Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office.
Notably, in July 2019, when President Yoon Seok-yeol was appointed Prosecutor General, Bae was selected as his successor for Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. President Yoon and Bae were classmates at the Judicial Research Institute and Bae was one year junior at Seoul National University Law School.
During his approximately six-month tenure as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office until January 2020, Bae oversaw investigations into allegations of corruption involving Cho Kuk's family and suspicions of the Blue House's interference in the Ulsan mayoral election. After the inauguration of former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, Bae was promoted to Senior Prosecutor General in January 2020 but was assigned as Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, unrelated to investigations, which was regarded as a "demotion disguised as a promotion." In May 2021, he left the prosecution and began practicing as a lawyer.
Former Director Bae stated, "As lead attorney of the Criminal General Group, I will strengthen the cooperation system between the main office and branch offices, and enhance the accessibility and quality of defense in general criminal cases and corporate criminal cases to elevate YK's status and trust."
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