Top officials replaced at crisis-ridden prosecution

The Justice Ministry on Tuesday replaced top-level prosecution officials in the wake of bribery and sex scandals and internal feuds over organizational reform.

The reshuffle affected the No. 2 position at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and the chief of a powerful investigation arm in charge of high-profile corruption and crime.

The shakeup followed the resignation of Prosecutor-General Han Sang-dae Friday.

Kim Jin-tae, chief of Seoul High Public Prosecutors’ Office was appointed as deputy prosecutor-general. He will serve as acting prosecutor-general. Kim replaced Chae Dong-wook who moved to the Kim’s post.

Kim Kyung-soo, chief of Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office, was named to head the Central Investigation Department, replacing Choi Jae-kyung.

Choi has been under fire for trying to help a prosecutor accused of bribery.

An internal inspection team cleared Choi of responsibility, wrapping up its investigation Tuesday. He submitted his resignation taking moral responsibility but Minister Kwon Jae-jin turned it down.

Choi was moved to the post of his replacement in Jeonju.

“The personnel movement was conducted to put an end to the confusion and freshen up the atmosphere in the prosecutorial organizations,” the ministry said in a statement.

In a related move the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said that it would fire trainee prosecutor Jeon Jae-mong who was involved in a sex scandal.

Jeon is accused of having sex with a female suspect whom he was interrogating, in return for favors.


By Kim Young-won
(wone0102@heraldcorp.com)