Resignation of Prosecutor General Signals Tensions in South Korea's Justice System

On July 1, Prosecutor General Shin Woo-jung announced his resignation, a move widely interpreted as a response to the Lee Jae-myung administration's push for the separation of investigative and prosecutorial powers. Prior to his resignation, Shin reportedly expressed concerns that remaining in his position would intensify attacks on the prosecution from the ruling Democratic Party. In a brief resignation statement, he emphasized that the criminal justice system is directly linked to the fundamental rights of citizens, warning that setting deadlines and conclusions could lead to unforeseen negative consequences.

Shin's resignation came just two days after President Lee Jae-myung appointed Jeong Seong-ho as the Minister of Justice and Bong Wook as the Chief Civil Affairs Secretary. During his presidential campaign, Lee promised to separate investigative and prosecutorial powers and implement judicial oversight of prosecutors. Following Lee's election, the Democratic Party proposed legislation to abolish the prosecution office and establish a public prosecution office. Observers suggest that Shin decided to resign upon the appointment of Jeong and Bong, who are expected to carry out the president's prosecutorial reforms.

Upon his nomination, Jeong remarked that maintaining the name 'Prosecution Office' would be challenging. He stated that while the term 'abolition of the prosecution' may not be appropriate, reforms must align with public expectations. A senior prosecutor noted that Shin likely believed that staying in his role would expose him to harsher scrutiny from the government.

Shin had faced pressure from the Democratic Party even before the presidential election. In March, after a court canceled the arrest warrant for then-President Yoon Seok-yeol, Shin chose not to appeal the decision, leading to demands for his resignation from the Democratic Party, which accused him of releasing a traitor.

Following Shin's resignation, several senior prosecutors who worked alongside him also submitted their resignations, which were promptly accepted by President Lee. Among those who resigned were Lee Jin-dong, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Shin Eung-seok, Chief Prosecutor of the Southern District of Seoul, and Yang Seok-jo, Chief Prosecutor of the Eastern District of Seoul, all of whom were part of the so-called 'Yoon Seok-yeol line' during the previous administration. Additionally, Byeon Pil-geun, Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Justice, also resigned.

In response, the Ministry of Justice quickly announced the appointments of nine senior officials within the ministry and prosecution. Notably, those appointed are recognized as 'planning experts.' Nam Man-seok, head of the Drug and Organized Crime Division, was appointed as Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, while Jeong Jin-woo, Chief Prosecutor of the Northern District of Seoul, was named Chief Prosecutor of the Central District of Seoul. Seong Sang-heon, Chief Prosecutor of Daejeon, was appointed as the Director of the Prosecutors' Office, and Choi Ji-seok, head of the Inspection Division at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, was designated as the Director of Planning and Coordination.