Analysis of Candidates for the Three Major Special Prosecutors in 2025

Introduction

On June 11, 2025, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik officially requested President Lee Jae-myung to appoint a 'special prosecutor' for three major cases: ▲ the insurrection accusation against former President Yoon Seok-youl, ▲ the stock price manipulation allegations involving Kim Geon-hee, and ▲ the allegations of covering up the death of Chae Sang-byeong. This request aims to establish a special prosecutor to investigate these cases independently and fairly. Consequently, on June 12, the President officially requested both the Democratic Party and the Justice Innovation Party to recommend candidates for the special prosecutor for each case, and both parties announced three candidates each. This report aims to analyze the legal careers, expertise, investigative independence, and fairness of each of the six candidates recommended, and to assess the future composition of the special prosecutor and its political impact.

Analysis of Candidates Recommended by the Democratic Party

The Democratic Party chose a strategy to secure both political neutrality and expertise through a balanced candidate composition that forms a triangular structure involving the prosecution, judiciary, and academia. Candidate Cho Eun-seok is a former audit committee member of the Board of Audit and Inspection and served as the acting chairman of the Board, having held key positions in the prosecution, including the Seoul High Prosecutor's Office and the Korean Prosecutorial Service Training Institute. He was appointed as an audit committee member during the Moon Jae-in administration and is classified as a centrist reformist both inside and outside the prosecution. As evidenced by his request for a review of the Presidential Residence relocation audit while serving at the Board, he possesses proactive policy execution experience rather than a passive approach. Candidate Min Jung-ki is a former chief judge of the Seoul Central District Court, who has shown interest in judicial reform and strengthening judicial independence. He has experience overseeing political cases, including the trial of former Minister Cho Kuk, and has firmly responded to incidents regarding internal document leaks and judicial surveillance. He is regarded as having maintained an independent stance against political pressure on the judiciary. Candidate Lee Yoon-je is a professor at Myongji University, specializing in criminal law and international criminal law. He has extensive practical experience both domestically and internationally, having served as a prosecutor at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and at the Ministry of Justice's International Legal Affairs Division. He has also made theoretical contributions to the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Agency and prosecution reform. He is an expert with more investigative practical experience than a typical law professor.

Analysis of the candidates recommended by the Justice Party

The Justice Reform Party selected candidates primarily from individuals with strong reformist tendencies or non-mainstream legal backgrounds. It appears that they are focused on the independence of investigations and the oversight of prosecutorial power. Candidate Han Dong-su, a former head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Inspection Division, had conflicts with then-Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol while investigating the news media and prosecution collusion case and the allegations of documents related to the surveillance of judges. He has consistently expressed critical views on prosecutorial reform and legal ethics, emphasizing public interest while working at a law firm. He is considered the most suitable 'prosecutorial watchdog' for the special investigation into the insurrection case related to former President Yoon Seok-yeol. Candidate Shim Jae-cheol, a former director of the Ministry of Justice's Prosecutorial Affairs Bureau, is a practical figure who oversaw the personnel, organization, and inspection tasks of the prosecution. While he has somewhat bureaucratic tendencies, he is proficient in organizational management and internal administration. He has experience facing disciplinary and inspection matters during his tenure, demonstrating strengths in decision-making centered on fairness and procedure. Candidate Lee Myung-hyun, a former head of the Legal Affairs Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is a former military legal officer. He has handled military-related corruption investigations and legal enforcement while serving as the head of the Defense Ministry's prosecution division and the Legal Affairs Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is considered suitable for the special investigation that needs to examine military discipline, barracks culture, and the overall command structure, such as the case of the death of Chae Sang-byung.

Evaluation of Suitability of Individuals by Investigation Case

The special prosecutor for the internal affairs, the Democratic Party's recommended candidate Cho Eun-seok, is experienced in prosecutorial positions and possesses strengths in traditional investigative capabilities and organizational management. Han Dong-soo, recommended by the Justice Innovation Party, is someone who can ensure the independence and depth of the investigation due to his experience of directly opposing former President Yoon and his expertise in monitoring. Kim Min-kyu, the former Chief Justice, symbolizes the neutrality and principled rulings of the judiciary and can approach matters related to First Lady Kim Gun-hee from a judicial perspective. Former Prosecutor General Shim Jae-cheol understands the overall operation of prosecutorial power and has strengths in information accessibility and organizational management. Special Prosecutor Chae Sang-byeong, Professor Lee Yun-je, can provide expert opinions on institutional analysis and criminal law interpretation, and former Justice Ministry official Lee Myung-hyun is a candidate with practical military investigation experience and a sense of the field as a military legal officer.

Future schedule and outlook

President Lee Jae-myung is expected to officially appoint three out of six candidates for the special investigation team by June 15, in accordance with the legal deadline. After an approximately 20-day preparation period following the appointment, each special investigator is anticipated to commence full-scale investigations starting in mid-July. The special investigation into insurrection and Kim Geon-hee can last up to 170 days, while the investigation into Chae Sang-byeong can last up to 140 days, with extensions possible if necessary. This special investigation is initiated not merely as a legal matter but in the context of the historic demand for the realization of judicial justice amid power conflicts during a regime change. The independence, neutrality, and effectiveness of the special investigation will serve as a litmus test for the trustworthiness of the Lee Jae-myung administration's judicial reform efforts, as well as for the overall health of South Korean politics.

Conclusion

This 'Three Special Prosecutors' is not merely a political event but a cornerstone for the restoration of the judicial system and the recovery of power surveillance mechanisms. The six candidates recommended by the ruling and opposition parties each have different backgrounds and expertise, and their selection signifies different investigative directions and outcomes. Regardless of which way President Lee Jae-myung ultimately leans, for the special prosecution system to function as an independent investigative apparatus based on the Constitution and laws, the public's oversight and participation must continue. It remains to be seen whether this special prosecution can transcend the limitations of the past and become a turning point for the realization of substantive justice.