No Comment on Plans to Summon Kim Keonhee
As resignations continue among prosecutors who have returned to office after being referred to impeachment trials by the National Assembly, including Lee Changsoo, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Cho Sangwon, the fourth deputy chief at the same office, Supreme Prosecutor Shim Woojung has stated that the prosecution will remain unaffected by the recent developments and will continue to fulfill its fundamental duties.
Supreme Prosecutor Shim Woojung is responding to reporters' questions on the morning of March 10, 2025, at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo
On May 21, when asked by reporters on his way to work about the resignations of Lee and others, Prosecutor General Shim said, "The prosecution will carry out its duties unwaveringly under any circumstances," adding, "As Prosecutor General, I will lead the frontlines accordingly." However, he did not respond to a question about whether there are plans to summon Kim Keonhee before the presidential election on June 3.
Lee Changsoo and Cho Sangwon submitted their resignations to the Ministry of Justice the previous day. Both had been impeached by the National Assembly after clearing First Lady Kim Keonhee of charges in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, but returned to work about two months ago following the Constitutional Court's dismissal of the impeachment. It has also been reported that Ahn Dongwan, a prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office who was impeached and later reinstated over allegations of abuse of prosecutorial power in the Seoul City public official espionage fabrication case, has expressed his intention to resign.
The recent wave of resignations among prosecutors is being linked to the decision to reopen the investigation into the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case. On April 25, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office decided to reinvestigate the case. Some observers believe this reflects a sense of crisis that those involved could face difficulties under the new administration after the presidential election. If an inspection is launched under the new government, the retirement process would be halted, and if dismissed, the prosecutors would be barred from practicing law for three years.
Lee Changsoo has long been associated with President Yoon Sukyeol, having served as spokesperson for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2020 when Yoon was Prosecutor General, and is considered part of the so-called "Yoon Sukyeol group" of prosecutors. Later, as chief of the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, he indicted Lee Jaemyung, leader of the Democratic Party, in the Seongnam FC sponsorship case, and as chief prosecutor in Jeonju, he investigated a case involving former President Moon Jaein's former son-in-law. Cho Sangwon was also dispatched to the special prosecutor's team investigating the Park Geunhye administration's corruption scandal in 2016, when President Yoon led the team, earning him the nickname "Yoon Sukyeol kid." As deputy chief prosecutor at the Seongnam branch, he also investigated the illegal sponsorship allegations involving Lee Jaemyung and Seongnam FC.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
