Jinwoo Jung, Seoul Central District Prosecutor: "We Must Fix What Needs to Be Fixed in the Prosecution from the Public's Perspective"

"Eradicating Crimes Affecting Ordinary Citizens...
Devoting All Efforts to Protecting a Safe Daily Life"
"Exercise of Prosecutorial Power Must Correct What Is Wrong...
What Needs to Change Must Change"

Jinwoo Jung, the newly appointed Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, is answering questions from the press as he arrives at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 4, 2025. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

Jinwoo Jung, the newly appointed chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Judicial Research and Training Institute, 29th class), stated, "We must do our utmost to create a fair and trustworthy prosecution."

At his inauguration ceremony on July 4, Jung said, "For the exercise of prosecutorial power to be considered fair, we must judge the same things in the same way and different things differently, and clearly declare those judgments. Even if a conclusion is not welcomed at this moment, it is the role of the prosecution to confidently make decisions based on 'the power of truth' and 'the law and principles,' to take responsibility for those decisions, and to be the fair prosecution that the public expects."

In addition, Jung emphasized the need to focus on the prosecution's fundamental duties. He said, "Discussions on reforming the prosecution and the criminal justice system are ongoing, and I am aware that the workload and difficulties faced by front-line prosecutors' offices, including the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, have increased due to support for multiple special prosecutor investigations. Nevertheless, our essential mission of protecting the public from crime and safeguarding their rights and interests always awaits us, even in challenging times."

He also called for full efforts to eradicate crimes affecting people's livelihoods, such as voice phishing, jeonse fraud, drug offenses, stalking, and crimes against women and children, in order to protect vulnerable members of society and ensure the safety of ordinary citizens in their daily lives.

Jung also expressed his stance on prosecutorial reform. He said, "Active discussions on the current roles and functions of the prosecution are underway, and I understand that members of the prosecution have diverse views on prosecutorial reform. We must honestly reflect on how we have exercised prosecutorial power, which was the starting point of these reform discussions, correct what was wrong, and change or improve what needs to be changed from the public's perspective."

He added, "For the principles we must uphold and the duties we must fulfill, we need to explain them accurately to the public and seek their understanding."

Jung has earned deep trust within the prosecution through a wide range of positions, including Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Central Investigation Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Public Security Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Director at the Ministry of Justice, Director of the Review and Analysis Office at the Financial Intelligence Unit, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Chief of the Scientific Investigation Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (Prosecutor General), Chief Prosecutor of the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office, and Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office. He has been recognized more for his expertise in public security and planning than in special investigations.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is the largest prosecutors' office in the country and handles large-scale cases that attract the attention of the public, including those involving political and business circles.