Shim Woojung: "Hired Through a Fair Process"
Shim Woojung, Prosecutor General, is responding to reporters' questions on the way to work at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on March 10, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dongju
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials launched a compulsory investigation on September 24 into former Prosecutor General Shim Woojung and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding allegations of preferential hiring of Shim's daughter by the ministry.
The third division of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, led by Chief Prosecutor Lee Daehwan, dispatched prosecutors and investigators on the morning of the same day to conduct searches at Shim's residence in Acrovista, Seocho-gu, Seoul, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seocho-gu. This marks the first time the Corruption Investigation Office has initiated a compulsory investigation into allegations involving former Prosecutor General Shim.
Shim is suspected of using improper influence to ensure the hiring of his daughter, Shim, to a researcher position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, despite her not meeting the qualifications for the role. Shim was hired as a contract researcher at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy last year, and again this year as a permanent researcher at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, despite not meeting the eligibility requirements.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs initially failed one final interview candidate during the hiring process, then changed the eligibility criteria to require a master's degree in international politics, after which Shim was selected.
Previously, the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office and other authorities determined that the Korea National Diplomatic Academy had violated hiring procedure laws, including changing the job posting details, in connection with the allegations surrounding Shim's hiring.
Based on the seized materials, the Corruption Investigation Office plans to investigate whether former Prosecutor General Shim exerted improper pressure during his daughter's hiring process and whether there were any issues with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' process of changing the eligibility requirements.
In March, former Prosecutor General Shim released a statement through the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, asserting, "My eldest daughter was hired as a researcher at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy through a fair and transparent process in accordance with the job posting."
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