Mass Resignations Among Senior Prosecutors... Complete Overhaul of High Prosecutors and Chief Prosecutors

Personnel Notification for Yoon Administration Appointees
Planning and Special Investigation Prosecutors Targeted
All Senior Officials Who Led Investigations into the Moon Administration and President Lee to Be Replaced

With the first regular high-level personnel appointments for prosecutors under the Lee Jaemyung administration scheduled for July 29, a wave of resignations is expected among planning and special investigation prosecutors appointed during the Yoon Sukyeol administration.

The Ministry of Justice announced on July 24 that it would convene the Prosecutors’ Personnel Committee and is expected to announce the appointments of high-ranking officials around July 25. As this is the first regular high-level reshuffle under the Lee administration, a large-scale personnel change is anticipated. President Lee Jaemyung has signaled strong prosecutorial reforms, including the separation of investigation and indictment powers, so it is expected that key positions will be filled with personnel who will support these reforms and help address internal resistance within the prosecution. The Ministry of Justice is reported to have conducted detailed vetting of about 30 candidates from the 31st to 33rd graduating classes of the Judicial Research and Training Institute since last weekend.

It was reported that the Ministry of Justice contacted those eligible for high prosecutor and chief prosecutor positions the previous day to seek their understanding?effectively notifying them to vacate their posts in anticipation of the large-scale reshuffle. Most of those notified have reportedly expressed their intention to resign.

The list of those affected includes Shin Jayong, President of the Judicial Research and Training Institute (28th class); Park Sehyun, Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office Chief (29th class); Song Kyungho, Busan High Prosecutors’ Office Chief (29th class); Shin Bongsoo, Daegu High Prosecutors’ Office Chief (29th class); Kwon Sunjeong, Suwon High Prosecutors’ Office Chief (29th class); and Hwang Byungjoo, Daejeon High Prosecutors’ Office Chief (29th class).

Others reportedly included are Jung Younghak, Busan District Prosecutors’ Office Chief (29th class); Kim Yucheol, Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office Chief (29th class); Son Junseong, Deputy Chief of Daegu High Prosecutors’ Office (29th class); Park Kidong, Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office Chief (30th class); Jung Yumi, Changwon District Prosecutors’ Office Chief (30th class); Lee Youngrim, Chuncheon District Prosecutors’ Office Chief (30th class); Ko Hyunggon, Deputy Chief of Suwon High Prosecutors’ Office (31st class); and Park Youngjin, Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office Chief (31st class).

Among the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office staff, Jeon Mugon, Director of Planning and Coordination (31st class); Jung Heedo, Director of Trial and Litigation (31st class); Kim Taeun, Director of Public Investigation (31st class); and Heo Jung, Director of Forensic Investigation (31st class) are also reportedly on the list.

Legal circles note that most of those affected are high prosecutors and chief prosecutors appointed during the previous administration, many of whom led investigations into alleged misconduct during the Moon Jaein administration or directed investigations involving President Lee. As a result, this reshuffle is being widely viewed as a sweeping overhaul.