Four Prosecutors Who Signed Daejang-dong Appeal Withdrawal Statement Demoted... Lee Eungcheol Appointed as Director General for Criminal Affairs

Kim Taehun, Head of the Special Investigation Headquarters for Religious-Political Collusion Allegations, Promoted to Chief Prosecutor of the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office
Park Kyuhyung Appointed as Director of Planning and Coordination at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office; Seong Sangheon as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office

High-ranking prosecutor appointments at the level of chief prosecutor and above have been carried out. Of the district chief prosecutors who issued a statement during the controversy over the prosecution's decision to drop the appeal in the Daejang-dong development corruption case, only four were demoted to research positions at the Legal Research and Training Institute, considered sidelined posts. Inside the prosecution, there had been expectations that a large number of the prosecutors who signed the statement would be replaced.

On January 22, the Ministry of Justice announced that it would implement new appointments and transfers for 32 prosecutors at the level of Supreme Prosecutors' Office on January 27. The Ministry of Justice explained that this personnel reshuffle aims to establish a new lineup to stably pursue prosecutorial reform tasks, such as the transition to a public prosecution office, and to enable prosecutors to focus on their core work.

Lee Eungcheol, Chief Prosecutor of the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office, has been appointed as Director General for Criminal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, considered one of the "Big 2" posts in the prosecution. Park Kyuhyung, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor), has been appointed as Director of Planning and Coordination at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, a position responsible for tasks related to prosecutorial reform, such as the separation of investigation and indictment. Just before his promotion to chief prosecutor, Park served as Director of Criminal Policy at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, overseeing prosecutorial reform and related work. Cha Beomjun, Head of Trial and Litigation at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, was appointed as Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Justice, while Seo Jeongmin, Chief Prosecutor of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, was appointed as Director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, handling the ministry's budget and National Assembly affairs.

Seong Sangheon, Director General for Criminal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, will take over as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, which handles many financial, securities, and election cases. Kim Taehun, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, who heads the special investigation headquarters for allegations of collusion between religious groups such as the Unification Church and Shincheonji, has been promoted to Chief Prosecutor of the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office.

The team assisting Acting Prosecutor General Koo Jahyun has also been reorganized. Hong Wanhee, Deputy Chief Prosecutor (dispatched to the Office for Government Policy Coordination), has been promoted and appointed as Head of the Narcotics and Organized Crime Division. An Seonghee, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, has been promoted and appointed as Head of the Trial and Litigation Division. Jang Hyeyoung, Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, has been promoted and appointed as Head of the Scientific Investigation Division. Lee Manheum, Chief Prosecutor of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, has been appointed as Head of the Criminal Division, and Choi Jiseok, Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Justice, has been appointed as Head of the Public Investigation Division.

Jo Ara, Legal Counsel at the Ministry of Justice, regarded as an ace among the 34th class of Judicial Research and Training Institute graduates, has been promoted to Deputy Chief Prosecutor (Chief Prosecutor) of the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office in this reshuffle. Jeong Gwangsu, Chief Prosecutor of the Seosan Branch, has been promoted to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office. Lee Jeongryeol, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, has been promoted to Chief Prosecutor of the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office. Park Jinsung, Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, has been promoted to Head of Planning at the Legal Research and Training Institute.

All district chief prosecutors have also been replaced. Cha Sungil, Director of Planning and Coordination at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, has been appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office. Kim Hyangyeon, Chief Prosecutor of the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, has been appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office. Moon Hyeoncheol, Chief Prosecutor of the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office, has been appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office. Park Seongmin, Director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, has been appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office. Yoo Gwangryeol, Head of Planning at the Legal Research and Training Institute, has been appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office. Kim Dowan, Head of the Public Investigation Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, has been appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office. Min Gyeongho, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office, has been appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office. Lee Junbeom, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office, has been appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office. Lim Seungcheol, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, has been appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office. Shin Daegyeong, Chief Prosecutor of the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office, has been appointed as Chief Prosecutor of the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office.

Among the district chief prosecutors who signed the statement, Park Hyunjun, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office; Park Youngbin, Chief Prosecutor of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office; Yoo Doyun, Chief Prosecutor of the Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office; and Jeong Sujin, Chief Prosecutor of the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office, have been demoted to research positions at the Legal Research and Training Institute.