Top Prosecutors Seek Clarification on Corruption Case Appeal Cancellation

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Regional Prosecutors’ Office Chiefs Demand Clarification on Appeal Decision

Regional prosecutors’ office chiefs have called for a detailed explanation from Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok regarding the decision not to appeal a corruption case involving a private developer linked to the Seongnam Daejang-dong development project. This request was made on the 10th, as the controversy surrounding the case continues to escalate.

Interpretations suggest that this situation may mark the beginning of what is being referred to as "prosecutorial chaos" (檢亂), with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office facing potential abolition in October of next year. Some believe that the leadership of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office may have blocked appeals in cases that are favorable to the current administration.

Park Jae-eok, head of the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office, posted a statement titled “Request for Explanation to the Acting Prosecutor General” on the internal prosecution network (e-Pros) under the names of 18 regional prosecutors’ office chiefs, including himself, on the same day.

In his statement, Park highlighted the nationwide controversy caused by the acting prosecutor general’s decision to abandon the appeal against the partial acquittal in the first trial of the Seongnam Daejang-dong development corruption case. He mentioned that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office chief, who had initially intended to appeal, ultimately instructed the investigation team to abandon the appeal due to respect for the acting prosecutor general’s directive. The chief then announced his resignation, taking responsibility for failing to push through the appeal opinion.

Park added that according to the acting prosecutor general’s statement released yesterday, the decision to abandon the appeal was based on a review of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s appeal opinion and references to the Ministry of Justice’s views. He stated that the acting prosecutor general comprehensively considered the implications and content of the ruling, appeal standards, and the case’s progress before concluding that abandoning the appeal was appropriate. This decision was made after deliberation and consultation with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office chief under his responsibility as acting prosecutor general.

Regarding this, Park emphasized that the acting prosecutor general’s explanation lacks specific details about the circumstances and legal reasoning behind the decision to abandon the appeal, making it difficult to accept. As prosecutors’ office chiefs responsible for maintaining public prosecution at local offices, they once again requested a detailed explanation from the acting prosecutor general regarding the circumstances and legal grounds that led to the decision to abandon the appeal.

The statement was signed by several regional prosecutors’ office chiefs, including:

  • Park Jae-eok (Suwon)
  • Park Hyun-jun (Seoul Northern)
  • Park Young-min (Incheon)
  • Park Hyun-chul (Gwangju)
  • Lim Seung-cheol (Seoul Western)
  • Kim Chang-jin (Busan)
  • Seo Jeong-min (Daejeon)
  • Lee Man-heum (Uijeongbu)
  • Yoo Do-yoon (Ulsan)
  • Kim Hyang-yeon (Cheongju)
  • Moon Hyun-cheol (Changwon)
  • Shin Dae-kyung (Jeonju)
  • Park Hyuk-su (Daegu)
  • Lee Eung-cheol (Chuncheon)
  • Jung Soo-jin (Jeju)
  • Min Kyung-ho (Daejeon High Prosecutors’ Office, deputy chief prosecutor)
  • Lee Joon-beom (Suwon High Prosecutors’ Office, deputy chief prosecutor)
  • Park Kyu-hyung (Daegu High Prosecutors’ Office, deputy chief prosecutor)

Kim Tae-hoon (Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office chief) and Lim Eun-jeong (Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office chief) were excluded from the statement.

Meanwhile, research officers affiliated with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office reportedly decided to recommend that Acting Prosecutor General Noh resign, holding him accountable for abandoning the appeal in the Daejang-dong case. The research officers were set to deliver a statement to Noh on the same day, which included the following points:

  • “This decision to abandon the appeal has resulted in the prosecution itself abandoning its core function—the obligation to maintain public prosecution.”
  • “We urge you to take appropriate responsibility, including clarifying your position.”

The statement also demanded, “Please explain the specific facts regarding why the investigation team’s appeal opinion was not approved and the decision-making process between the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office and the Ministry of Justice in a way that the public and prosecution members can understand.” It is unusual for Supreme Prosecutors’ Office research officers to demand the resignation of the acting prosecutor general.

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