On July 1, 2025, South Korea's Ministry of Justice announced a sweeping reshuffle of top prosecutorial positions, marking a significant shift in the country's legal landscape under the new Lee Jae-myung administration. The personnel changes, executed swiftly following the appointment of the new Justice Minister nominee Jeong Seong-ho and other senior officials, aim to align the prosecution leadership with the government's reform agenda and political direction.
The most notable appointment is that of Im Eun-jung, previously Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Important Economic Crimes Investigation Division at the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office. Known for her outspoken advocacy for prosecutorial reform and her history of challenging the previous Yoon Seok-yeol administration, Im was promoted directly to Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, bypassing the usual step of Deputy Chief Prosecutor. This move has drawn significant attention as it reflects both a symbolic and practical commitment by the new government to overhaul the prosecution system.
Im Eun-jung has long been recognized as a leading reformist within South Korea's prosecutorial ranks. She has a track record of whistleblowing within the prosecution, having reported former and current prosecutors for dereliction of duty and openly criticized prosecution personnel policies and investigations. During the Moon Jae-in government, she notably investigated allegations of forced false testimony related to the bribery case of former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, directly confronting then-Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. In September 2021, Im stated, "All nine volumes of the investigation records are under Prosecutor Im Eun-jung. It is logically impossible that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol did not know that," highlighting her critical stance toward the previous leadership.
Following the inauguration of President Lee Jae-myung's government, Im has served as a political administration expert committee member for the National Policy Planning Committee, further cementing her role in shaping prosecutorial reform. Her promotion to lead Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, a key jurisdiction in the capital, underscores the administration's determination to place reform-minded figures in influential positions.
Alongside Im, other significant appointments were made to reinforce the new government's prosecutorial framework. Jeong Jin-woo, formerly Chief of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, was appointed as Chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, the largest and most prominent prosecution office in the country. Jeong's experience includes serving as the first Deputy Chief of the same office during the Moon Jae-in administration and leading the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Scientific Investigation Department. His appointment fills a vacancy that had been open since the resignation of former Chief Lee Chang-soo on June 3, 2025.
Kim Tae-hoon, a prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, was promoted to Chief of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, which oversees high-profile financial and securities crime investigations in the Yeouido district, home to the National Assembly. Kim's career includes key roles such as Ministry of Justice Policy Planning Officer and Deputy Chief at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Notably, during the previous Yoon Seok-yeol government, he was demoted to Busan High Prosecutors' Office and later to Seoul High Prosecutors' Office prosecutor after investigating allegations related to Kim Keon-hee, the former president's wife.
Another pivotal appointment is that of Noh Man-seok, Deputy Chief of the Daejeon Narcotics and Organized Crime Division, who was named Deputy Prosecutor General. This role positions Noh as the acting Prosecutor General following the resignation of Shim Woo-jeong, serving until a new Prosecutor General is appointed. Noh's background includes leading a joint military-prosecution investigation into the controversial military security command's martial law document during the Park Geun-hye government and serving as a Ministry of Justice Prosecutor Affairs Officer under the Moon Jae-in administration. He was promoted to Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Chief in the first personnel change after the Yoon Seok-yeol government took office in 2022.
The personnel changes came amid a wave of resignations by senior prosecutors linked to the previous administration. Deputy Prosecutor General Lee Jin-dong and Chiefs Shin Eung-seok (Seoul Southern District), Yang Seok-jo (Seoul Eastern District), and Byun Pil-geon (Ministry of Justice Planning and Coordination Office) all tendered their resignations on July 1, 2025. These departures were accompanied by reflective messages on the prosecution's internal network, expressing regret for leaving during challenging times but confidence in the institution's resilience. For instance, Shin Eung-seok wrote, "It is with regret that I leave first in a difficult situation. I believe our more excellent prosecution family will eventually overcome this difficulty well." Yang Seok-jo also voiced concerns about the government's push for separating investigation and indictment, cautioning that "Indictment without investigation is an evasion of responsibility, judgment, and abuse of public prosecution rights, and investigation without indictment carries the risk of leading to targeted and separate investigations."
In addition to the prosecutorial appointments, the Ministry of Justice also reshuffled key administrative positions. Choi Ji-seok, a prosecutor from the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, was appointed as Chief of the Ministry of Justice Planning and Coordination Office, a role responsible for overseeing justice policies and assisting the Justice Minister and Vice Minister. Seong Sang-heon, Chief of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, was named Chief of the Prosecution Bureau, overseeing prosecution personnel, organization, and budget. These changes reflect a comprehensive effort to realign both prosecutorial and administrative leadership under the new government's vision.
The Ministry of Justice explained that these personnel changes were implemented "to renew the atmosphere and realize justice administration aligned with the state foundation following the inauguration of the new government." The appointments are viewed by many analysts as a strategic move to consolidate power within the prosecution to facilitate the Lee Jae-myung administration's agenda of prosecutorial reform, distancing the institution from the influence of the previous Yoon Seok-yeol government.
Observers note that the rapid timing of the personnel changes—coming just two days after the nomination of Jeong Seong-ho as Justice Minister and the appointments of Bong Woong-jae as Civil Affairs Secretary and Lee Jin-soo as Vice Minister—signals a determined effort to set a new course for South Korea's prosecution system. The exclusion of officials closely tied to the former administration and the elevation of reformist figures like Im Eun-jung underscore the political and institutional shifts underway.
Im Eun-jung's new role places her at the helm of a crucial prosecutorial district in Seoul, where she is expected to steer investigations and prosecutions in line with the new government's reformist priorities. Her history of challenging entrenched prosecutorial practices and advocating for transparency and accountability positions her as a key figure in the ongoing transformation of South Korea's justice system.
As the Lee Jae-myung administration embarks on this ambitious reform path, the prosecutorial reshuffle marks a critical juncture, with the leadership changes expected to influence the direction and tone of high-profile investigations and the broader legal landscape in the months and years ahead.
