"'Gihwiktong' Shim Woo-jung Appointed as New Prosecutor General... Emphasis on Organizational Stability [AK Radio]"

"Sim Woo-jeong, New President, Strong Yet Gentle"
'Strategic Planner' Background and Rational Traits as Strengths

The Ministry of Justice announced the inauguration of Shim Woo-jung as the new Prosecutor General on the 19th. Born in Gongju, Chungnam, Prosecutor General Shim graduated from Whimoon High School and Seoul National University Law School, passing the bar exam in 1994. After completing the 26th Judicial Research and Training Institute, he was commissioned as a prosecutor in 1998 and served at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, earning a reputation within the prosecution as a 'planning expert.'

Prosecutor General Shim is known for his mild and rational personality and is said to have received strict family education alongside his younger brother, lawyer Shim Woo-chan. Those around him describe him as "humble and attentive" and a "typical soft exterior with a strong interior" type.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Classified as a planning expert, Prosecutor General Shim has mainly been responsible for policy and organizational management within the Ministry of Justice and prosecution. Notably, he has worked in key departments such as the Ministry of Justice's Prosecution Division, the Planning and Coordination Office, and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Planning and Coordination Office. During his time as a junior prosecutor, he served as a prosecutor in the prosecution division, and as a chief, he held the position of head of the Ministry of Justice's Prosecution Division, following an 'ace' career path within the prosecution.

Several factors appear to have influenced Prosecutor General Shim's appointment. As the Yoon Seok-yeol administration approaches its midterm, this personnel decision is seen as emphasizing organizational stability over investigations. Unlike candidates from the special investigation division, Shim, a planning expert, was chosen in this context.

Additionally, Prosecutor General Shim has been consistently favored across successive administrations. He held major positions in the Ministry of Justice during the Park Geun-hye administration and was promoted to chief prosecutor during the Moon Jae-in administration, serving as head of the Ministry of Justice's Planning and Coordination Office and chief of the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. Under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, he was promoted to high prosecutor, serving as deputy chief prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and vice minister of justice.

The reason he has been able to hold key positions regardless of the administration appears to be his background as a planning expert and his rational disposition. Unlike special investigation prosecutors, he has not directly investigated politically sensitive cases, which is analyzed to have resulted in relatively fewer controversies.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Shortly after his inauguration, Prosecutor General Shim carried out high-level personnel changes. He transferred Shin Ja-yong, deputy chief prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to the head of the Judicial Research and Training Institute and replaced Yang Seok-jo, head of the Anti-Corruption Division, among other key posts. Notably, the appointment of Koo Seung-mo, deputy chief prosecutor of the Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office, as head of the Anti-Corruption Division has drawn attention. Prosecutor Koo is a junior alumnus of Prosecutor General Shim's alma mater, and this personnel move is seen as forming the core team of the 'Shim Woo-jung administration.'

The new Prosecutor General faces politically sensitive cases such as those related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, the investigation of former President Moon Jae-in's son-in-law, and the investigation of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and his spouse. In particular, the response to the Deutsche Motors case is being closely watched. Whether Prosecutor General Shim will request the restoration of investigative authority from the minister or maintain the current status quo will be a key point to observe.

Meanwhile, corporations are paying close attention to the direction of corporate investigations following the new Prosecutor General's inauguration. Prosecutor General Shim handled several major cases as head of the Criminal Division 1 at the Central District Prosecutors' Office. He is evaluated as not holding a particularly negative view toward corporations, and there are expectations that investigations will be conducted based on rational and flexible thinking.

The outcome of ongoing investigations into large companies such as Wemakeprice and Kakao is also being closely watched. Especially since Prosecutor General Shim's younger brother, lawyer Shim Woo-chan, has been recruited as a member of Kakao Group's Responsible Management Committee, there is keen interest in his role during the Kakao investigation process.

The inauguration of the new Prosecutor General raises expectations for organizational stability within the prosecution and progress in major investigations. Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung's leadership and how he will address challenges inside and outside the prosecution will be closely observed in the future.

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