Cho Eunseok, Insurrection Special Prosecutor: "I Will Perform My Duties Solely Based on Investigative Logic"

Lee Appoints Cho Eunseok as Special Prosecutor for Insurrection Case
"I Will Approach This with the Utmost Care, as If Compiling a Historical Record"

Former Board of Audit and Inspection Commissioner Cho Eunseok (Judicial Research and Training Institute, Class 19), who was appointed as the 'Special Prosecutor for the Insurrection Investigation' by President Lee Jaemyung, stated, "I will carry out my duties as special prosecutor solely based on investigative logic."

In a statement sent to the prosecution press corps on the 13th, Special Prosecutor Cho said, "I will do my utmost to ensure that the efforts of the National Office of Investigation, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, and the prosecution, who have been dedicated to this investigation, are not in vain. I will approach this with the utmost care and attention, as if I were compiling a historical record."

He further emphasized, "I will carry out my duties as special prosecutor solely based on investigative logic."

On the previous day, President Lee nominated Cho Eunseok, former acting Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Min Jungki, former Chief Judge of the Seoul Central District Court, and Lee Myeonghyeon, former Chief Prosecutor of the High Prosecutors’ Office of the Ministry of National Defense, as special prosecutors under the 'Three Major Special Prosecutor Acts (Insurrection, Kim Keonhee, and Chae Sangbyeong Special Prosecutor Acts)'.

Special Prosecutor Cho is a former prosecutor who, after being promoted to chief prosecutor, served as Head of the Criminal Department at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, Chief Prosecutor of the Cheongju District Prosecutors’ Office, Deputy Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, Director of the Legal Research and Training Institute, Commissioner of the Board of Audit and Inspection, and Acting Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection. During the Park Geunhye administration in 2014, he led the investigation into the alleged inadequate rescue response by the Coast Guard during the Sewol ferry disaster while serving as Head of the Criminal Department at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.

The insurrection special prosecutor’s office may have one special prosecutor, up to six assistant special prosecutors, and up to 267 personnel, including 60 dispatched prosecutors. The investigation period can last up to 170 days.