Key Prosecutors Resign Amidst Ongoing Investigations into President Lee Jae-myung

On July 23, 2025, several prominent prosecutors involved in the investigation of President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) announced their resignations. Among them are Song Kyung-ho (송경호), the Chief Prosecutor of the Busan High Prosecutors' Office; Shin Bong-soo (신봉수), the Chief Prosecutor of the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office; and Park Gi-dong (박기동), the Chief Prosecutor of the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office. Additionally, Jeong Hee-do (정희도), the head of the Public Prosecution Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and Jeong Young-hak (정영학), the Chief Prosecutor of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office, have also confirmed their resignations. This wave of resignations comes amid speculation of imminent personnel changes in the prosecutor's office following the appointment of Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho (정성호).

Song Kyung-ho, a graduate of the 29th Judicial Research and Training Institute, has held various significant positions, including head of the Special Investigations Division at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office and Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. He was appointed as the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in May 2022, during the early days of President Yoon Suk-yeol's (윤석열) administration, where he oversaw investigations into allegations of corruption related to the Daejang-dong development project, perjury, and election law violations involving President Lee.

Shin Bong-soo, also a classmate of Song from the 29th Judicial Research and Training Institute, has served as the head of the High-Tech Crime Investigation Division and the Special Investigation Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. He was involved in investigations concerning President Lee's alleged corruption in the Daejang-dong project and illegal remittances to North Korea. In September 2023, he took charge of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, directly overseeing the investigation into President Lee.

In a statement on the internal prosecutor network, Jeong Hee-do expressed his regret for leaving the prosecution service during such challenging times, stating he submitted his resignation at 6:31 PM. A graduate of the 31st Judicial Research and Training Institute, Jeong previously served as the head of the Inspection Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and was appointed as the head of the Public Prosecution Division in May 2022.

Park Gi-dong, a graduate of the 30th Judicial Research and Training Institute, has held various roles, including Chief Prosecutor of the Andong District Prosecutors' Office and the Criminal Policy Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. He led investigations into election law violations during President Lee's campaign and was involved in high-profile cases such as the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors and the shooting incident involving a public official in the West Sea.

Jeong Young-hak, who graduated from the 29th Judicial Research and Training Institute, has held several key positions, including head of the Public Security Division at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office and the Criminal Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

The legal community anticipates that personnel changes for chief prosecutors will occur soon following Justice Minister Jeong's appointment. Reports indicate that the Ministry of Justice has recently contacted chief prosecutors nationwide regarding potential personnel changes. A meeting of the Prosecutorial Personnel Committee may be held as early as July 24 to discuss promotions and transfers among chief prosecutors.