[Profile] 'Scholar' with Experience in Investigation and Planning... Candidate for Human Rights Commissioner Ahn Chang-ho

23rd Judicial Examination in 1981
A Mild-Tempered Scholar

Former Constitutional Court Justice Ahn Chang-ho (67), nominated as the next Human Rights Commission Chairperson candidate, is recognized as a talented individual in both investigation and planning fields and is considered a representative 'scholar-type' prosecutor.

New Candidate for Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission: Former Constitutional Court Justice Ahn Chang-ho
Photo by Yonhap News

Candidate Ahn, who hails from Daejeon, graduated from Daejeon High School in 1975 and from Seoul National University with a degree in Sociology in 1979. He then completed graduate studies in Law at Seoul National University in 1981, passed the 23rd Judicial Examination the same year, and completed the 14th Judicial Research and Training Institute course in 1984.

Starting his legal career as a prosecutor at the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office in 1985, Ahn served as a prosecutor in the Human Rights Division of the Ministry of Justice in 1993, Deputy Chief Prosecutor at Busan District Prosecutors' Office in 1996, Head of the Special Legislation Division at the Ministry of Justice in 1999, Planning Director at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2001, Public Security Planning Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2003, and Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in 2006. He is evaluated as having extensive experience in various positions in investigation and planning fields. He is also regarded as gentle yet authoritative, with strong capabilities in investigative theory, practice, and legal interpretation.

During his tenure as Public Security Planning Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, he reorganized detention standards based on the severity of election crimes and established investigative techniques for tracing election funds, marking a turning point in eradicating money-based elections. As Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, he led the investigation of the 'Ilshimhoe' case, the largest spy organization since the June 15th North-South Joint Declaration, resulting in the arrest of 10 spies.

From September 2012 to September 2018, Ahn served as a Constitutional Court Justice. In 2021, he joined the law firm Hwawoo as an advisory attorney. In 2022, he served as the 2nd Chairperson of the Advisory Committee for the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency.

He cites independence activist Ahn Chang-ho as a respected figure and is a devout Christian, mentioning the Bible as a memorable book.

▲ Daejeon (57) ▲ Seoul National University College of Social Sciences ▲ 23rd Judicial Examination (14th Judicial Research and Training Institute) ▲ Prosecutor at Seoul District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Prosecutor in Human Rights Division, Ministry of Justice ▲ Head of Special Legislation Division, Ministry of Justice ▲ Planning Director, Supreme Prosecutors' Office ▲ Chief of Foreign Affairs Division, Seoul District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Public Security Planning Officer, Supreme Prosecutors' Office ▲ Director of Judicial System Planning, Ministry of Justice ▲ Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Head of Criminal Division at Supreme Prosecutors' Office and Acting Chief Prosecutor at Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Chief Prosecutor, Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Chief Prosecutor, Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office ▲ Chief Prosecutor, Seoul High Prosecutors' Office ▲ Constitutional Court Justice ▲ Advisory Attorney, Law Firm Hwawoo ▲ 2nd Chairperson, Advisory Committee for High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency