On the 1st, Prosecutor General Sim Woo-jeong resigned. In a resignation statement sent to the media, Sim said, "I am stepping down from the heavy responsibility of the prosecutor general today," adding, "Considering various situations, I judged that stepping down now fulfills my final responsibility."
Sim continued, "The criminal justice system is directly linked to the basic rights of the entire population, including life, body, and property," and noted that "if pushed with set deadlines and conclusions, many unforeseen side effects could arise." This was interpreted as a reference to the current government's push for the separation of prosecutorial investigation and indictment rights.
At the same time, Sim stated, "A criminal justice system for the people should be created through in-depth discussions after thoroughly listening to various opinions from academia and practitioners."
Sim took office in September of last year and has resigned with about 1 year and 2 months remaining in his 2-year term. Since the introduction of the prosecutor general's term system in 1988, there have been 16 cases of mid-term resignation, including Sim.
On that day, Sim's resignation statement was only 186 characters long, failing to fill even half of an A4 sheet. A legal expert remarked, "It would be difficult for Sim, appointed by former President Yoon Suk-yeol, to fully express everything he wants to say, especially right after President Lee Jae-myung took office."
Sim did not meet with the press while leaving at around 6 p.m. that day. It is reported that he left directly from the underground parking lot, rather than through the first-floor entrance of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.