Justice Ministry names new chief of Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office amid investigation into first lady scandal

May 14, 2024, 11:02 am

AsiaToday reporter Kim Hyung-joon

The Justice Ministry on Monday confirmed new appointments and transfers of 39 prosecutors at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office level. Lee Chang-soo, the current head of the Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office, has been appointed to head the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, which is leading the investigation into First Lady Kim Keon-hee’s acceptance of a Dior bag and the main opposition Democratic Party’s distribution of bribes at the National Convention.

The latest reshuffle involved a total of 39 prosecutors and the appointment will be implemented on Thursday.

Lee Chang-soo, the new chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, served as the head of the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office and the chief of the Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office after serving as the second deputy prosecutor at the Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office. Lee is widely known as an aide of President Yoon Suk-yeol. He worked as a spokesperson for the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office when Yoon was the Prosecutor General. While serving as the head of the Seongnam branch office, Lee investigated allegations of illegal donations to Seongnam Football Club related to Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the Democratic Party. While working at the Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office, Lee led the investigation into allegations of preferential hiring of former President Moon Jae-in’s former son-in-law at Korean low-budget carrier Thai Eastar Jet.

Song Kyung-ho, former chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, was appointed as the head of the Busan High Prosecutors Office. All four deputy chief prosecutors under Song, including first deputy prosecutor Kim Chang-jin and fourth deputy prosecutor Ko Hyung-gon, were replaced.

The justice ministry said the appointments will contribute to the stable operation of the ministry and the prosecution by resolving the vacuum in some Supreme Prosecutors’ Office-level positions that have been left vacant for an extended period.

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