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The Prosecution Service in Seoul. / Source: Park Sung-il, Yonhap News

A total of 161 prosecutors have left South Korea’s Prosecution Service so far this year, marking the highest number in a decade. The surge comes amid the impeachment turmoil that followed the December 3 emergency martial law crisis and the accelerating push for prosecutorial reform under the current administration. The fallout from the Daejang-dong appeal withdrawal and simultaneous special counsel assignments is expected to further intensify the exodus.

According to data the Ministry of Justice submitted to the National Assembly, 161 prosecutors resigned between January and November 10. The figure far exceeds last year's 132 resignations and surpasses even the 146 recorded in 2022, immediately after the previous administration shifted out of power.

Particularly notable is the departure of junior prosecutors with fewer than 10 years of experience. Fifty-two such prosecutors resigned this year — one-third of all departures. The number had never exceeded 50 in the past four years: 22 in 2021, 43 in 2022, 39 in 2023 and 38 last year. In September alone, right after the government transition, 47 prosecutors submitted their resignations.

Observers say the government and ruling party’s sweeping prosecutorial reforms have contributed significantly to the resignations. Prosecutors who have long handled a heavy load of criminal cases — often under prolonged overtime — are increasingly frustrated with being labeled “political prosecutors” and treated as targets of reform.

Former Seosan Branch Chief Prosecutor Cha Ho-dong, who resigned in September after the passage of a government reorganization bill calling for the abolition of local prosecutors’ offices, warned that “nearly 40,000 criminal cases nationwide are practically left hanging in the air.”

Senior leadership now faces severe staffing challenges. Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office chief Park Cheol-woo and other newly appointed leaders are urging swift case processing, but more than 100 prosecutors have already been dispatched to three active special counsel teams, with additional personnel required for a standing special counsel probing the “Gwanbongwon and Coupang allegations.” The manpower shortage is expected to worsen.

Adding to the strain, morale within the Prosecution Service has plunged after a series of controversies, including the Daejang-dong appeal withdrawal. On November 19, Democratic Party lawmakers on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee filed a police complaint against 18 chief prosecutors — including former Suwon District Prosecutor Park Jae-eok — accusing them of violating the State Public Officials Act after they posted an internal message questioning the legal basis for the appeal withdrawal. Park and former Gwangju High Prosecutors’ Office chief Song Kang have already resigned.