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Park Cheol-woo, the newly appointed chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, arrives for work at the prosecutors’ office in Seocho District, Seoul, on November 21. / Source: Yonhap News

Park Cheol-woo, the newly appointed head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, said on November 21 that he fully understands the backlash among prosecutors over the decision to forgo an appeal in the Daejang-dong case, emphasizing that stabilizing the organization will be his top priority.

Arriving at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office around 9 a.m., Park said, “At a time when restoring public trust and boosting morale within the prosecution are both urgent tasks, the weight of this responsibility feels heavy. There is inaccurate information circulating about me, but I will do my utmost in fulfilling my duties as chief prosecutor.”

Regarding ruling-party calls to hold accountable the prosecutors who opposed the decision to drop the appeal, Park said, “I fully understand and empathize with the sentiments of the prosecution’s members. I hope the political sphere will also appreciate those sentiments.” He declined to offer further comment, saying, “This is not the place to discuss specifics.”

Park previously served as head of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s anti-corruption department and was directly involved in the internal process that led to the decision not to appeal the Daejang-dong ruling. After the first-instance verdict, he reportedly conveyed to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office—initially inclined to appeal—that the matter required “careful reconsideration.”

He was appointed on November 19 to replace former chief prosecutor Jeong Jin-woo, who resigned in the wake of the controversy. Park’s term officially began on November 21, with an inauguration ceremony held privately at 10 a.m. inside the building.