Wave of Resignations Among Mid-Level Prosecutors Ahead of Personnel Reshuffle... Is a Major Reorganization Coming?

Scheduled for the End of This Month... Possibly as Early as Tomorrow
Government Expected to Maintain Its Stance on Tightening Discipline
Large-Scale Reorganization Anticipated... Internal Unrest Looms

As the reshuffling of mid-level prosecutors is expected to take place as early as January 29, there are predictions that the government will continue its stance on tightening discipline across the organization. Following the appointments of chief prosecutors and high prosecutors, the legal community analyzes that the personnel changes for deputy chief prosecutors and division chiefs will further accelerate the reorganization of personnel aimed at strengthening organizational discipline.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office Investigation Deliberation Committee recommended the prosecution to indict Pastor Choi Jaeyoung for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act for giving luxury bags and other items to First Lady Kim Keonhee. The photo shows the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul, on the 25th. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

According to the legal community on January 28, the Ministry of Justice held a Prosecutors’ Personnel Committee meeting at the Government Complex Gwacheon the previous afternoon to review the personnel principles for high prosecutors (deputy chief prosecutors and division chiefs) and general prosecutors. According to the results of the review released on the internal prosecutorial network E-Pros, the personnel announcement is scheduled for the end of this month, with high prosecutors to assume their new posts in the first week of February, and general prosecutors on February 9.

The Ministry of Justice stated, “This personnel reshuffle is being conducted in consideration of the need to reorganize mid-level management following new appointments at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office level and the creation of new positions due to organizational restructuring.” Some members of the 40th Judicial Research and Training Institute class are expected to be newly appointed as division chiefs, while prosecutors from the 41st class, with approximately 14 years of legal experience, are expected to be newly appointed as deputy division chiefs.

The legal community anticipates that this round of personnel changes could be as extensive as the recent senior-level reshuffle. A lawyer who previously served as a chief prosecutor commented, “There are conflicting opinions internally, with some expecting a large-scale overhaul for the sake of discipline, while others suggest that the reshuffle could be limited in scope because certain classes have not agreed to the appointment of deputy chiefs.”

In the lead-up to the personnel changes, a series of resignations from incumbent prosecutors has also been announced. Hong Yonghwa, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Bucheon Branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office (35th class), posted his resignation on E-Pros the previous day, stating, “I feel heavy-hearted as I have decided to resign at a time when the organization is about to undergo significant transformation.” Song Bongjun, head of the Public Investigation Division 2 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office (36th class), and Choi Jaeman, head of the Criminal Division 3 (36th class), also expressed their intention to resign on the same day. Seo Hyunwook, prosecutor at the Changwon Branch of the Busan High Prosecutors’ Office (35th class), who led the investigation into the “Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance allegations” case, also announced his intention to resign on January 26.

The legal community also predicts that additional resignations among prosecutors may follow the mid-level personnel reshuffle. With a large-scale reorganization of personnel anticipated, internal unrest within the prosecution is expected to continue for the time being, both before and after the personnel changes.