Cheol Woo Park, New Chief of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office: "Judicial Oversight of Police and Supplementary Investigations Are the Essence of the Prosecution Service" (Comprehensive)

Cheol Woo Park, the new chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (30th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), emphasized the necessity of maintaining prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority to keep police and other investigative agencies in check against human rights violations.
During his inauguration ceremony at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the morning of the 21st, Chief Park stated, "Effective judicial oversight of police investigations and supplementary investigations are crucial areas where the Prosecution Service can reaffirm its significance to the public." He added, "To this end, I will review the efficiency of our work system and devise ways for each member to take pride and fully demonstrate their capabilities through appropriate resource allocation."
He continued, "The Prosecution Service is well aware that, due to its role, it cannot be free from public criticism. However, there has never been a time when the sense of deprivation and self-doubt, as if all the passion we have poured in has been completely denied, has been as great as it is now." He added, "How to resolve this is not simple, and just as the Prosecution Service is not a single entity, each person has different thoughts and solutions. At the very least, we should begin by reflecting on instances where the fairness of our investigative authority was questioned by the public, and on words or actions that may have appeared arrogant, even unconsciously."
On his way to work that day, Chief Park also acknowledged the collective resistance of prosecutors regarding the decision to forgo an appeal in the Daejang-dong development scandal, saying, "I fully understand why members of the Prosecution Service are protesting the decision to drop the appeal." He admitted to some of the criticism directed at him, as he had been internally criticized for instructing the withdrawal of the appeal in the Daejang-dong development scandal while serving as the head of the Anti-Corruption Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
He further commented on the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) demanding disciplinary action against prosecutors who opposed the decision to drop the appeal in the Daejang-dong development scandal, saying, "I hope the political community will understand the sentiment of resistance among prosecution members." However, when asked by reporters whether he believed the decision to forgo the appeal was correct, he replied, "It would not be appropriate for me to comment." When asked if he agreed with abolishing the Prosecution Service, he responded, "Let's leave it at that," avoiding a direct answer.
Chief Park graduated from Muntae High School and the Department of International Relations at Seoul National University, and passed the 40th Judicial Examination in 1998. After serving as a Public-Service Advocate, he began his public service career at the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office in 2004, and has since worked at the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office Cheonan Branch, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Busan District Prosecutors' Office Dongbu Branch.
He is regarded as a leading prosecutor specializing in special investigations. Since being dispatched as a special prosecutor for the 'sponsor prosecutor' case in 2010, he has served as the head of the special investigation departments at the Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office and Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office. He also led the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Department at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.
During the Moon Jae-in administration's prosecution reform initiative, he served as spokesperson for the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, he was assigned to the Daegu and Busan High Prosecutors' Offices, which are considered less prominent posts, but was promoted to chief prosecutor in July after the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration.

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