[Profile] Shim Woo-jung, Prosecutor General Nominee... A 'Strategist' Experienced in Key Positions at the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office

Prosecutor General Nominee Shim Woo-jung. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

On the 11th, Shim Woo-jung, the Deputy Minister of Justice (53), who was nominated as the next Prosecutor General candidate, is regarded as a leading 'planner' within the prosecution.

Born in Gongju, Chungnam, Shim graduated from Whimoon High School in Seoul and Seoul National University Law School. After passing the 34th Judicial Examination in 1994, he completed the 26th Judicial Research and Training Institute in 1997.

Shim is the son of Shim Dae-pyeong, former governor of Chungnam Province, who served as the leader of the Liberty Forward Party and as a member of the 17th and 18th National Assembly.

After completing his military service as a military legal officer, he began his career as a prosecutor at the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office (now Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office) in 2000. During his time as a junior prosecutor, he followed an elite career path including roles such as a research officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and a prosecutor in the Ministry of Justice's prosecution division.

He further solidified his position as a representative 'planner' within the prosecution by consecutively serving as the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Crime Information Division 2 Officer in 2012, the Ministry of Justice Criminal Planning Division Chief in 2013, and the Ministry of Justice Prosecution Division Chief in 2014. When he served as the Ministry of Justice Prosecution Division Chief, his direct superior, the Ministry of Justice Prosecution Bureau Chief, was Kim Joo-hyun, the Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs.

From 2015, he worked as the senior chief of the Criminal Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. He briefly worked alongside President Yoon Seok-youl when the latter was appointed as the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in May 2017, before moving to the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office Western Branch in August of the same year.

He is evaluated as having 'no enemies inside or outside the prosecution.' During the Park Geun-hye administration, he held key positions at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Ministry of Justice, and Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Under the Moon Jae-in administration, he was promoted to chief prosecutor and held important posts such as Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Justice and Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. Even after the change of administration, he was promoted to high prosecutor, serving as Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and Deputy Minister of Justice.

He was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice in January this year and also served as acting Minister of Justice for about a month before Park Sung-jae took office as the successor to former Minister Han Dong-hoon, during a period when the ministerial post was vacant.

There is analysis that President Yoon's trust in him is strong, as he was appointed Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to assist the Prosecutor General, who is one senior in the Judicial Research and Training Institute, and was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice to serve as acting minister during the difficult period of appointing a successor after former Minister Han's resignation.

Shim is praised for handling his duties calmly and meticulously, and for his rational and gentle personality, earning strong trust from members of the prosecution.

▲ Chungnam Gongju (53) ▲ Whimoon High School, Seoul ▲ Seoul National University Law School ▲ 36th Judicial Examination ▲ 26th Judicial Research and Training Institute ▲ Prosecutor at Seoul District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Prosecutor at Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office Gangneung Branch ▲ Research Officer at Supreme Prosecutors' Office ▲ Prosecutor in Ministry of Justice Prosecution Division ▲ Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Legal Cooperation Officer at Consulate General in Los Angeles ▲ Licensed Attorney in California, USA ▲ Supreme Prosecutors' Office Crime Information Division 2 Officer ▲ Ministry of Justice Criminal Planning Division Chief ▲ Ministry of Justice Prosecution Division Chief ▲ Chief of Criminal Division 1 at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Daegu District Prosecutors' Office Western Branch ▲ Director of Forensic Science Planning at Supreme Prosecutors' Office ▲ Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Seoul High Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor level) ▲ Director of Planning and Coordination at Ministry of Justice ▲ Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Chief Prosecutor of Incheon District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Executive Committee Member of the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) ▲ Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Supreme Prosecutors' Office (High Prosecutor level) ▲ Deputy Minister of Justice (Acting Minister)