Special Prosecutor Jo Eun-seok, who will lead the investigation into the December 3 martial law-related rebellion case, requested the dispatch of nine prosecutors at the senior prosecutor level (equivalent to deputy chief prosecutor or section chief) to the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office on the 16th. Jo stated, “I requested the dispatch of nine senior prosecutors from the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, selected primarily based on their investigative abilities and dedication to their duties.”
Special Prosecutor Jo requested the dispatch of key team leaders from the special investigation team, including Kim Jong-woo (class 33, Judicial Research and Training Institute), deputy chief of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutor’s Office, Lee Chan-kyu (class 34), head of the Public Investigation Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office, Choi Soon-ho (class 35), head of the Criminal Division 3 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office, and Choi Jae-soon (class 37), crime information officer 2 at the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office.
Other requested personnel include Jang Joon-ho (class 33), deputy chief of the Chuncheon District Prosecutor’s Office; Kim Soo-hong (class 35), head of the Financial Investigation Division 1 at the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office; Kim Jeong-guk (class 35), head of the Criminal Division 4 at the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office; Guk Won (class 36), head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division at the Busan District Prosecutor’s Office; Park Hyang-chul (class 36), head of the Food and Drug Investigation Division at the Western District Prosecutor’s Office; and Park Ji-hoon (class 37), head of the Criminal Division 5 at the Northern Seoul District Prosecutor’s Office. Some of these prosecutors have experience being dispatched to the special investigation team for the 2017 government corruption scandal.
Jang Joon-ho, Choi Soon-ho, and Park Ji-hoon, among others, are set to join the special prosecution team from the 17th to assist Prosecutor Jo with preparation for the investigation.
The special investigation team can dispatch up to 60 prosecutors. After initially filling nine team leader positions, Prosecutor Jo is expected to request additional dispatches. One of the prosecutors included in the dispatch request stated, “It seems accurate that the special prosecutor requested the dispatch, and if the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Justice agree, we will have to go.”
Prosecutor Jo is also expediting the selection process by requesting the Korean Bar Association to recommend eight candidates for special counsel by the 17th. After final discussions, the Bar Association will notify Prosecutor Jo. It is reported that the primary criterion for the candidates recommended by the Bar Association was also ‘ability.’ A representative from the Bar Association said, “We are focusing on ability rather than seniority.”