Leaving Is Risky... Prosecutors Hold Off on Resignations, Choosing to Wait and See

Only Nine Prosecutors Resigned After the Launch of the New Administration
Monthly Average Was Twelve Over the Past Three Years

In the first half of 2025, a total of 52 prosecutors resigned. This averages slightly less than nine per month, which is lower than the monthly average of 12 resignations over the past three years. Despite expectations that there would be a mass resignation of prosecutors amid the announcement of sweeping "prosecution reform" measures-reforms strong enough to be described as "removing the nameplate from the prosecution office"-only nine prosecutors resigned in June, the month when the new administration took office.

There are three main reasons being cited for this unexpected trend. First, it is said that members of the prosecution tend to remain within the organization and observe the situation rather than leave when the organization is unstable. This is because leaving the organization during uncertain times makes it difficult to establish a stable footing elsewhere. One senior prosecutor commented, "Prosecutors know the internal situation best," adding, "The more precarious the organization, the better it is to stay inside rather than leave." He also stated, "Rather than leaving immediately, there is a prevailing atmosphere of carefully assessing one’s future while continuing with one’s duties."

Photo to aid understanding of the article. Pixabay.

Another factor is that the work environment for prosecutors has improved. The reinstatement of special operational expenses and special activity funds-which had been completely cut during the 2024 budget review-has sped up case processing, leading to a renewed focus on work among prosecutors. A prosecutor with 10 years of experience at a district prosecutors’ office in the capital region, who had considered resigning in June but decided to stay, said, "I have no idea what will happen to the organization (the prosecution), and I don’t want to take the risk of leaving recklessly."

The sluggish legal market is also cited as a cause. Demand for former prosecutors in the legal market is not what it once was, making prosecutors hesitant to resign. The legal market is saturated, and the preference for former prosecutors-which was once considered a "guaranteed ticket"-has recently declined significantly. A senior prosecutor at a district prosecutors’ office in the capital region remarked, "It was fine to leave when times were good, but in times like these, business outside isn’t good either." There have been cases where prosecutors decided to leave but changed their minds after learning about the situation in the legal industry. A lawyer currently working at a major law firm said, "These days, lawyers with a police background are more in demand than those with a prosecution background."

The appointment of Bong Wook (age 60, 19th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), former Deputy Prosecutor General, as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Presidential Office, and the nomination of Jung Sung-ho (age 63, 18th class) of the Democratic Party of Korea as Minister of Justice, are also seen as reasons why internal departures from the prosecution have been lower than expected. There is a perception and expectation within the prosecution that Minister of Justice nominee Jung is someone who values flexibility and coordination, and will pursue pragmatic and realistic reforms rather than hardline changes. Senior Secretary Bong is known to have been respected and trusted within the organization since his time as a prosecutor. There are expectations that the government and ruling party will pursue prosecution reform in a reasonable and coordinated manner. Many within the prosecution say that the appointments of the Minister of Justice and Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs have given them a sense of "hope."

Following the high-level personnel changes in the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution on July 1, prosecutors are now paying close attention to upcoming personnel moves and their timing. It is expected that by the end of July or, at the latest, early August, there will be some key appointments, such as the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, which carries significant symbolic weight. There is also speculation that a large-scale reshuffle may take place in January 2026.

Reporter Woo Bin, Law Times

※This article is based on content supplied by Law Times.