Process Begins for First Chief of the Public Prosecution Service

The process to select the first chief of the Public Prosecution Service, which was established this month, has begun.

On October 13, the Ministry of Justice formed the Prosecutor General Candidate Recommendation Committee to recommend candidates for the position. This comes approximately 15 months after former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung retired in July 2025.

The committee includes ex-officio members Ki Woo-jong, Deputy Chief of the Court Administration Office; Kim Jeong-wook, President of the Korean Bar Association; Choi Bong-kyung, President of the Korean Association of Law Professors; Kim Hyun-soo, Chair of the Council of Law Schools; and Lee Eung-cheol, Director of the Criminal Justice Bureau at the Ministry of Justice. Non-ex-officio members appointed include former Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il, former Seoul National University Vice President Yeo Jeong-seong, Seongmyung University Special Professor Shim Seok-tae, and Baek Myeong-jae, Director of the Seoul Western Smile Center.

Acting Minister of Justice Lee Jin-soo appointed Moon as chair of the committee, considering his experience and social trust.

From October 14 to 21, the Ministry of Justice will accept public nominations for suitable candidates for the Prosecutor General position. During this period, individuals, corporations, or organizations can submit written nominations (excluding fax and email) to the Minister of Justice, specifying reasons for their recommendations, which will be kept confidential.

The Minister of Justice will review the nominations and propose individuals deemed suitable to the recommendation committee for evaluation. The committee will assess the qualifications of the candidates and recommend at least three individuals to the Minister of Justice, who will then respect the committee's recommendations in presenting a candidate for the Prosecutor General position. The President will nominate one of the candidates, who will then undergo a confirmation hearing before final appointment.

Candidates for the Prosecutor General position must meet the criteria outlined in Articles 28 and 35 of the Public Prosecution Service Act, which include having at least 15 years of experience as a judge, prosecutor, or attorney, or being a qualified attorney who has worked in legal affairs for a national agency, local government, state-owned enterprise, public institution, or as a law professor at a university. Experience in multiple positions or roles can be combined for the total years of service.