After Serving as Third Deputy Chief at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and Director of the Prosecution Bureau
Ministry of Justice Appoints Successor Immediately Upon Noh Manseok's Retirement
Many Challenges Ahead... Koo Jahyun Says, "Heavy Responsibility in Difficult Times"
On November 14, Koo Jahyun, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office (Judicial Research and Training Institute, 29th class), was appointed as the successor to Noh Manseok, who resigned as Acting Prosecutor General following controversy over the decision to drop the appeal in the Daejang-dong case. Chief Prosecutor Koo stated, "My top priority will be to stabilize the prosecution organization and faithfully carry out our fundamental duties."
Chief Prosecutor Koo made these remarks in response to questions from reporters about his thoughts on his appointment, as he was leaving the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office that day. He said, "I am taking on a heavy responsibility in a difficult time," and emphasized, "The most important thing will be to help the prosecution stabilize and enable everyone to diligently fulfill their roles."
When asked for his opinion on the decision to drop the appeal in the Daejang-dong case, he replied, "I believe there will be another opportunity to speak on this matter. I have nothing particular to say at this moment," avoiding a direct answer.
The Ministry of Justice announced that Chief Prosecutor Koo will be transferred to serve as Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office as of November 15. This personnel change, which was carried out on the day of Acting Prosecutor General Noh's retirement, is seen as an effort to quickly restore order amid the turmoil within the organization.
After completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute as part of the 29th class, Chief Prosecutor Koo began his career at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and has since served in all the major posts within the prosecution, including the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and the Ministry of Justice. He is a classmate of former Deputy Prosecutor General Noh.
Chief Prosecutor Koo, who entered the prosecution together with former Deputy Prosecutor General Noh, has held key positions such as prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and the Ministry of Justice. He also served as a prosecutor in the Prosecution Bureau and headed the Legal and Prosecution Reform Task Force under the Legal and Prosecution Reform Committee, which discussed the removal of prosecutors from the Ministry of Justice at the beginning of the Moon Jaein administration. He is considered a leading strategist within the prosecution and is regarded as having a deep understanding of prosecution reforms promoted by the government.
In 2020, during the conflict between then-Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and then-Prosecutor General Yoon Sukyeol over the issue of stripping the prosecution of investigative powers, he served as spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice. After serving as the third deputy chief at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, he was promoted to chief prosecutor and appointed as Director of the Prosecution Bureau at the Ministry of Justice, overseeing personnel and budget matters for the prosecution.
With the change of administration to President Yoon Sukyeol, he rotated through positions such as Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Daejeon and Gwangju High Prosecutors' Offices and as a research fellow at the Legal Training Institute. He returned to a key post as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in July, following the first round of prosecution appointments under the Lee Jaemyung administration.
Chief Prosecutor Koo is known for his calm and cautious style, as well as his meticulous approach to work. As acting Prosecutor General, he faces the task of quelling the intensified internal backlash within the prosecution following the decision to drop the appeal.
He is also expected to play a leading role in redefining the prosecution's role in line with the Lee Jaemyung administration's policy of prosecution reform, and to represent the members of the organization on remaining contentious issues such as the retention of supplementary investigative powers, with many pending challenges ahead.
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