Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 1 (Korea Bizwire) -- Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung has offered to resign, just about nine months into his two-year term, legal sources said Tuesday, amid a move by the new administration to reform the prosecution.
Shim, who took office last September, expressed his intention to step down Monday, a day after President Lee Jae Myung tapped veteran lawmaker Rep. Jung Sung-ho as the new justice minister to carry out a major overhaul of the prosecution.
Critics have accused the prosecution of exercising excessive powers, with the new administration vowing to conduct extensive prosecutorial reform by separating its authority over investigations and indictments.
As part of the efforts, Lee also appointed former prosecutor Bong Wook as the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs and Lee Jin-soo, another former senior prosecutor, as vice minister of justice this week.
Shim will release a statement later in the day, which is expected to voice his stance on the new administration’s push to reform the prosecution.
His retirement ceremony will take place Wednesday when the prosecution is scheduled to make a policy briefing to the State Affairs Planning Committee, which serves to draw up the new administration’s policy tasks.
(Yonhap)
