The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) will fill 7 prosecutor positions. There is a prospect of accelerating investigations that have been stagnant, including the alleged pressure on the investigation of the deceased Marine related to former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
On the 19th, the CIO said, "Acting President Lee Joo-ho granted appointment approval for 2 Director Generals and 5 regular prosecutors." It added, "6 will be appointed on the 26th, and the remaining 1 will be appointed immediately after going through the procedure for resignation as an active-duty soldier."
According to the CIO law, the authorized number of prosecutors is 25. Of these, only 14 were filled. CIO prosecutors are appointed by the president through recommendations from a committee composed of members from both political parties. However, the recommendation of CIO prosecutors was postponed, and with the presidency currently vacant, the appointment of prosecutors was delayed. With the addition of 7 prosecutors this time, the number of CIO prosecutors will become 21.
The newly appointed Director General prosecutors are Na Chang-soo (31st Judicial Research and Training Institute) lawyer from Daeryun Law Firm and Kim Soo-hwan (33rd) former deputy chief prosecutor of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office.
Lawyer Na, born in 1974, served as a Director General prosecutor at the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and the Busan Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. He has experience in public security investigations and has also been involved in major criminal cases, including the kidnapping case of an elementary school student in Incheon. Former deputy chief prosecutor Kim Soo-hwan worked as a lawyer before serving as a prosecutor from 2004 to 2019. He has experience in violent crimes, finance, taxes, and corporations investigations.
Regular prosecutors include Choi Young-jin (41st) lawyer from Taehwa Law Firm, Won Sung-hee (42nd) head of the legal affairs office of the Military Welfare Agency, Choi Jung-hyun (43rd) lawyer from Class Hangyeol, Lee Jeong-hoon (3rd bar examination) former head of the intelligent crime investigation team at the Seoul Gangnam Police Station, and Lee Eon (5th bar examination) lawyer from Gangnam Law Firm.
The CIO stated, "We plan to pursue filling the 4 vacant prosecutor positions after deliberation by the personnel committee in the first half of the year."
Currently, the CIO is investigating the alleged pressure on the investigation of the deceased Marine connected to former President Yoon Suk-yeol. It is also handling cases related to employment favoritism involving the daughter of Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung and allegations of abuse of power against the Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae related to the ruling on Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea.
CIO Chief Oh Dong-woon noted, "We are investigating numerous cases of significant public interest, but have faced challenges in progress due to a shortage of investigative personnel," and added, "We will continue to strive for the CIO to achieve investigatory results that resonate with the public in accordance with the law and principles."