[Reporter’s Notebook] The 'Underperforming' Chief Prosecutor, the 'High-Performer' Prosecutor

From a Chief Prosecutor Who Refused to Review Reports
to a District Prosecutor's Office Head
Time to Show Leadership and Competence
Beyond Being a Whistleblower and Issue-Maker

He was not an 'underperforming' prosecutor from the beginning. In 2007, he served as the trial prosecutor for a child abuse and sexual assault case at a special school, and was awarded a commendation by the Prosecutor General. In 2009, he was selected for the Ministry of Justice's Legal Affairs Office, a position known to recruit only the top prosecutors. Notably, only one female prosecutor was assigned to this office. Despite having received a commendation, he was frequently reprimanded by senior colleagues at the Ministry of Justice, where high-performing prosecutors gathered, for writing subpar reports. As the most junior prosecutor, he sat next to the chief senior prosecutor and received detailed feedback and corrections. The senior who mentored him at that time would later become the Prosecutor General.

After leaving the Ministry of Justice, he was assigned to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office trial division in 2012. In a retrial case, he defied orders from his superiors to request a blank sentence and instead argued for acquittal, drawing significant public attention. Perhaps this was when things began to go awry. Following this incident, he was disciplined with a four-month suspension, after which he began posting critical comments about the organization on social networking services (SNS) and elsewhere. He did not hesitate to reveal his political inclinations. Rather than focusing on investigations and trials, the core duties of a prosecutor, he became known as a whistleblower and an issue-maker.

Having fallen out of favor with his superiors, he was transferred from one provincial office to another and was promoted to chief prosecutor at a small district office with only one department, several years later than his peers. Typically, a chief prosecutor supervises cases handled by junior prosecutors and gives first approval for indictments or dismissals. Junior prosecutors requested his approval for their cases. However, he reportedly refused to even look at the reports they brought, stating, "Each prosecutor is an independent entity, so I cannot approve your cases." In effect, he avoided the responsibilities assigned to him. Junior prosecutors received no guidance or supervision on their investigations. After a major dispute between him and his direct superior, the branch chief, they communicated about work only through official documents.

He also handled cases himself, as regular prosecutors do. There were even instances where judges, upon reviewing indictments he had written, would ask his juniors, "Did the chief prosecutor really write this indictment?" Judges presiding over trials for cases he prosecuted reportedly pleaded with the prosecutors to ensure the proceedings would run smoothly. Ultimately, he was reassigned to another marginal position and, while openly expressing his political views, appeared to focus more on side activities than on his primary duties.

In the first round of senior appointments under the Lee Jaemyung administration, he became the head of one of the two or three largest prosecutors' offices in the country. Despite having worked in the prosecution for 24 years without significant experience in investigations or directing investigations, he was placed in charge of an office with hundreds of staff members. High-performing prosecutors will likely place countless reports and documents requiring approval on his desk. His performance as the leader of the organization may not necessarily be underwhelming. However, both his supporters and critics alike will hope that he demonstrates the dignity and competence of a true leader, rather than remaining merely an issue-maker.