Prosecutor General recommendation committee likely to meet on the 9th; Lee Jung-hyun, Park Cheol-woo among names floated

[Financial News] The committee tasked with selecting candidates for Prosecutor General, who will be the inaugural head of the Public Prosecution Office, is expected to meet as early as the 9th. If the committee narrows the field to at least three candidates, the new Prosecutor General could be appointed within the year after a final candidate is recommended for appointment this month, according to projections.
According to legal circles on the 3rd, the Ministry of Justice is considering holding a meeting of the Prosecutor General Candidate Recommendation Committee on the 9th. The ministry previously accepted public nominations for candidates for Prosecutor General from the 14th to the 21st of last month.
With the justice minister’s post vacant, the selection process will be handled by Vice Minister of Justice Lee Jin-su, who is serving as acting minister. Taking into account the results of the public nominations and other factors, the vice minister will submit to the committee for consideration the individuals he deems suitable to be recommended for appointment.
After reviewing the eligibility of those under consideration, the committee will recommend at least three candidates to the vice minister. Respecting the committee’s recommendations, the vice minister will submit one final candidate from among them to President Lee Jae-myung for appointment.
Current prosecutors and attorneys who previously served as prosecutors are among those being mentioned as potential candidates for the next Prosecutor General. Among current officials, acting Prosecutor General Lee Jung-hyun and Park Cheol-woo, head of the Seoul Central District Public Prosecution Office, have been tipped as possible candidates. Attorney Ye Se-min, a former senior prosecutor, is also being mentioned as a contender. Ye left the prosecution service in August 2023 after serving as head of the Chuncheon District Prosecutors’ Office.
The Prosecutor General’s post has been vacant for about a year and four months, since former chief Shim Woo-jung, appointed under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, stepped down last July. The acting-chief system has remained in place during that time, and interest has also focused on the selection of the first head of the Public Prosecution Office since the Prosecution Service (PS) was transformed into the Public Prosecution Office on the 2nd of last month.
Once Vice Minister Lee submits a final candidate for appointment, President Lee will nominate the candidate and request a confirmation hearing from the National Assembly. The president will then appoint the Prosecutor General after the Assembly holds the confirmation hearing.
Legal circles also expect that if the committee meets on the 9th and a final candidate is recommended for appointment this month, the next Prosecutor General could be appointed after a confirmation hearing around the middle to latter part of next month.
 



[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter