Aftermath of 'Daejang-dong Appeal Withdrawal'—Will Senior Prosecution Service Leadership Resign Together?

[Financial News] The so-called 'Daejang-dong appeal withdrawal' incident has triggered growing internal backlash within the Prosecution Service, with signs emerging that senior leadership involved in the case may collectively resign. Since the right to appeal has already expired by law, calls for accountability are mounting both inside and outside the Prosecution Service against those who led the decision. With prosecution reform looming, there is speculation that both the central control tower and the head of the nation's largest prosecutors' office could be left vacant.
According to legal sources on the 11th, Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok, who took a day off, is expected to decide on his future soon.
Since the incident, Acting Prosecutor General Noh has faced persistent calls for resignation from junior prosecutors. The seven division chiefs (prosecutor generals) at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office demanded his resignation during a morning meeting the previous day. Additionally, 18 local prosecutors and deputy chief prosecutors posted messages on the internal network urging Noh to explain in detail the circumstances behind the withdrawal of the appeal.
On the same day, research prosecutors at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, who are rank-and-file prosecutors, visited Noh and insisted that he clarify his position, stating, "You have abandoned the core prosecutorial duty of maintaining public prosecution." Eight district chief prosecutors, a training professor at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, and Jung Yu-mi, a research fellow (prosecutor general) at the same institute, also called on Noh to act appropriately for his position, explain the circumstances, or step down.
It is unclear whether Noh's leave was prearranged. According to an official at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, he took leave due to health reasons.
Given the significant unrest within the Prosecution Service and mounting political pressure, it is highly likely that Noh will make a statement regarding his position as early as today or, at the latest, within the week. If he chooses to resign, it would be the first time in 13 years since Han Sang-dae stepped down in 2012 amid internal opposition to the abolition of the Central Investigation Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
Jung Jin-woo, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, offered his resignation on the 8th, just one day after the decision not to appeal. Immediately after Noh's statement, Jung posted on the internal network that he had "clearly conveyed to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office the need to file an appeal, but it was not accepted." He added, "While I will comply with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's directive, I want to make it clear that the position of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is different. I will take responsibility and step down."
However, even if both Noh and Jung decide to resign and submit their resignations, it is not certain that they will be accepted. Under the Prosecutors' Office Act and the National Public Service Act, resignations of high-ranking officials at the prosecutor general level or above must be formally accepted by the Minister of Justice, who must obtain presidential approval after review by the Ministry of Justice's personnel committee. For example, the resignation of former Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office chief Lee Chang-soo in June this year was accepted by the Minister of Justice only after presidential approval. Noh is already reported to have expressed respect for Jung's decision to resign.
However, since the resignations stem from the politically sensitive 'Daejang-dong appeal withdrawal' incident, it is difficult to predict what decision the President and the Ministry of Justice will make.
On his way to work the previous day, Minister of Justice commented to reporters that there was no connection between the withdrawal of the appeal in the main Daejang-dong case and the trial of President Lee Jae-myung, stating, "What does this case have to do with President Lee? President Lee was indicted separately, and his trial is currently suspended."
If both Noh and Jung resign, Cheol-woo Park, head of the Anti-Corruption Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, may also be directly impacted. Park ordered a review during the decision-making process to withdraw the appeal, and a conservative civic group has already filed a complaint against him with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, alleging abuse of authority.
On the morning of the same day, about 40 lawmakers from the People Power Party held a rally in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, demanding Noh's resignation and calling for a parliamentary investigation and special counsel to uncover the truth behind the withdrawal of the appeal in the Daejang-dong case.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo, Kim Dong-gyu Reporter