Election Commission Special Prosecutor Recommends 10 Candidates for Deputy Prosecutor

 

Lee Tae-han, the special prosecutor investigating allegations of a shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections, requested on August 28 that President Lee Jae-myung appoint 10 candidates for deputy prosecutor positions.

The special prosecutor announced through a media release that it has selected 10 candidates and requested the president to appoint them as deputy prosecutors.

Deputy prosecutors are responsible for investigating cases, maintaining prosecutions, supervising special investigators and dispatched officials, and handling media communications, receiving treatment equivalent to that of a chief prosecutor.

According to the special prosecutor law, the president must appoint five deputy prosecutors within five days of the request.

If the president fails to make the appointments within the specified time, the oldest recommended candidate will be considered appointed.

The special prosecutor has been reviewing the qualifications of the candidates after receiving recommendations for six deputy prosecutor candidates from the Korean Bar Association on August 25.

Previously, the special prosecutor indicated that it would prioritize forensic and investigative skills as the main criteria for selecting deputy prosecutors, while also considering political neutrality, objectivity, and personal integrity.

Once the five deputy prosecutors are appointed, preparations for the special prosecutor's office will begin in earnest.

The special prosecutor has sent a request to the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency to complete the deployment of 60 investigators, including 20 prosecutors, by September 4.

As of today, an additional dispatched prosecutor has reported to the temporary office, bringing the total to 14 personnel, including three dispatched prosecutors, five special investigators, and six dispatched police officers.

The special prosecutor also requested the joint investigation team of the police and prosecutors to transfer all records and seized evidence related to the ongoing investigation to the special prosecutor's office.

On August 31, the special prosecutor plans to receive and review digitized case records and establish an investigation plan to commence full-scale investigations on September 7.