It was confirmed on the 4th that the resignation letters of Lee Chang-soo, the chief prosecutor of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Jo Sang-won, the Vice Administrator, were accepted.
Lee, who took office in May of last year, expressed his intention to resign on the 20th of last month and stated that he would work until the 2nd of this month. However, Lee Joo-ho, the Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and acting president, determined that it would be inappropriate for the head of the country's largest prosecution office to be vacant during the presidential election and instructed him to work until the day before, and it is reported that he accepted the resignation letter in the evening.
Lee approved the non-indictment of Kim Keon-hee in connection with the 'Deutsch Motors stock manipulation' case last October. However, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office began a reinvestigation into this case in April. When Lee took office in May of last year, he was regarded as a 'pro-Yoon Seok-youl prosecutor.'
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office conducted an in-person investigation into Kim Keon-hee regarding the 'Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case' on July 20 of last year. However, instead of summoning her to the prosecution office, they investigated her at an external government security agency. Some pointed out the investigation as a 'privileged investigation' and 'lenient investigation.' Subsequently, the Central District Prosecutors' Office issued a non-indictment decision for Kim Keon-hee three months later, in October of last year.
In response, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion on December 5 of last year, stating that Lee and Vice Administrator Jo conducted a negligent investigation. The Constitutional Court unanimously dismissed the impeachment on March 13 of this year. As a result, the two returned to their positions after three months.
On April 25, after Lee and Vice Administrator Jo returned, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office decided to investigate the allegations involving Kim Keon-hee again.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Park Seung-hwan, the Vice Commissioner, will assume the position left vacant by Lee. When Lee was impeached and suspended from duty in December of last year, Vice Commissioner Park also acted as the chief prosecutor. The duties of Vice Administrator Jo will be carried out by Vice Administrator Lee Seong-sik.