On the 11th, candidate Shim Woo-jung expresses her thoughts on the nomination for Prosecutor General at the Ministry of Justice in the Government Complex Gwacheon. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Shim Woo-jung, Deputy Minister of Justice (26th Judicial Research and Training Institute), regarded as a representative 'planning expert' within the prosecution, has been nominated as the candidate for the next Prosecutor General, drawing attention to whether he can effectively address the numerous pending issues within the prosecution.
On the 12th, legal and political circles widely analyzed that President Yoon Seok-yeol's choice of Shim over the other three 'special investigation experts' candidates was a decision emphasizing the stability of the prosecution organization and communication with the Presidential Office.
President Yoon is a typical 'special investigation expert' prosecutor, having served as a prosecutor researcher at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Central Investigation Department, head of the 2nd and 1st Central Investigation Divisions, and chief of the Special 1st Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. During his tenure as Prosecutor General, he conducted a rigorous investigation into Cho Kuk, then Minister of Justice and a close aide to former President Moon Jae-in, who appointed him, and he understands better than anyone the rebellious nature of 'special investigation expert' prosecutors.
In particular, President Yoon, having observed People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok emphasize 'principle' and 'investigation without sanctuary' in the investigation of First Lady Kim Keon-hee, seems to have been more drawn to a 'planning expert' with strong policy and legal administrative skills and political acumen rather than a 'special investigation expert' with outstanding investigative abilities. The close working relationship between Shim and Kim Joo-hyun, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Presidential Office, who also comes from a 'planning expert' prosecutor background and controls investigative agencies including the prosecution, likely contributed to Shim's selection. Kim and Shim worked together as head of the Planning Division and prosecutor researcher at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2005, as head of the Prosecution Division and prosecutor in the Ministry of Justice in 2007, and as director of the Prosecution Bureau and head of the Prosecution Division in the Ministry of Justice in 2014.
Despite this background, if Shim is appointed Prosecutor General, he will face numerous challenging issues closely monitored by the Presidential Office. His first remark upon being nominated as a candidate the previous day was, "I feel a heavy responsibility being nominated at such a grave time."
He must promptly conclude investigations related to First Lady Kim, including the luxury handbag bribery allegations and the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case. In the latter case, the Prosecutor General's authority to direct the investigation has been excluded, but communication with the Presidential Office is inevitable before the final disposition. Since a de facto 'visit investigation' was conducted at the Presidential Security Service annex building without prior reporting to the Prosecutor General under the direction of Lee Chang-soo, chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, if a non-prosecution decision is made, criticism from the opposition party and public opinion will fall squarely on Shim. When asked about this matter the previous day, he emphasized 'law and principle' but avoided specific answers.
He also faces the burden of ongoing investigations into politically sensitive cases, including the cash envelope scandal involving multiple current Democratic Party lawmakers, allegations of irregular hiring involving former President Moon's ex-son-in-law, suspicions of a leisure trip to the Taj Mahal by First Lady Kim Jung-sook, and allegations of 'trial trading' in the public election law violation case of former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung involving former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il. Efficiently maintaining the prosecution in the trials of former leader Lee and his wife Kim Hye-kyung to achieve swift results is another task assigned to Shim.
Shim served as head of the Planning and Coordination Office at the Ministry of Justice during the Moon Jae-in administration and has extensive experience with National Assembly-related affairs as Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and Deputy Minister of Justice under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. He is known to have relatively good relations with opposition lawmakers compared to other candidates. However, once appointed Prosecutor General and responsible for investigations into former government officials and the opposition, he is destined to endure intense criticism from the opposition.
Furthermore, he must respond to ongoing moves led by the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party to impeach prosecutors and dismantle the prosecution office. During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, former Prosecutor General Song Kwang-soo resisted the abolition of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Central Investigation Department by saying, "Cut off my head." During the Lee Myung-bak administration, former Prosecutor General Han Sang-dae ordered an inspection of Choi Jae-kyung, then head of the Central Investigation Department, who opposed the abolition, but had to step down amid collective opposition from chief prosecutors and frontline prosecutors. During the Moon Jae-in administration, former Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il held a press conference shaking his suit jacket and indirectly criticized political forces undermining the prosecution's neutrality as the adjustment of investigative authority between the police and prosecution became apparent. Given Shim's reputation for being flexible and rational, there is keen interest in what course of action he will take if appointed Prosecutor General.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
