After 104 days, new prosecutor general finally named

President Yoon Suk-yeol named Lee One-seok, deputy chief of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to his former job as prosecutor general Thursday.

Lee One-seok, center, President Yoon Suk-yeol's prosecutor general candidate, talks to reporters at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul Thursday. [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk-yeol named Lee One-seok, deputy chief of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to his former job as prosecutor general Thursday.

Lee's appointment came after concerns over a prolonged vacancy in the position: for 104 days since the resignation of former Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo on May 6, days ahead of Yoon's presidential inauguration.

Lee, 54, has been serving as acting prosecutor general since May 23.

Lee is well-versed in prosecution affairs, according to the presidential office in a statement. As acting chief prosecutor, he "is the right person to lead the implementation of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's key national task of fair law enforcement in the legal field through criminal justice reform and continuity in the prosecution's command," the statement continued.

The office said that Lee has strong credibility among his colleagues "for his investigations based on principles and his gentle personality."

"I am hardly qualified for the weighty position of prosecutor general," Lee told reporters right after the announcement.

"There are no secrets or shortcuts to the prosecution's work," he continued. "In the future, I will listen humbly to the voices of the people and put all my efforts into protecting the basic rights of the people by working together with all members of the prosecution."

Born in Boseong County, South Jeolla, Lee is a graduate of Joongdong High School in Seoul and earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Seoul National University.

He started his career as a junior prosecutor at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. He later took more senior posts in the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office, Supreme Prosecutors' Office and Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Lee was a senior prosecutor in the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office that investigated former President Park Geun-hye for corruption in 2016.

He is reportedly close to Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, his classmate at the Judicial Research and Training Institute in the 1990s. Han is a close associate of Yoon from their time as prosecutors.

Lee worked with Yoon on a probe into Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee's slush fund scandal in 2008 and again when Yoon served as chief of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Central Investigation Division in 2011.

Yoon also spearheaded the probe into the influence-peddling and abuse of power scandal that directly led to former President Park's impeachment in December 2016 and removal from office in March 2017. Thus, Lee has been described as a member of Team Yoon Suk-yeol in the prosecution.

On Tuesday, the Justice Ministry's special personnel vetting committee recommended a shortlist of four candidates for prosecutor general.

The other contenders were Yeo Hwan-seop, president of the state-run Institute of Justice; Kim Hoo-gon, chief of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Offices; and Lee Doo-bong, chief of the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office.

Justice Minister Han told reporters Tuesday, "I will recommend someone who has the will and ability to properly eradicate crimes with justice and common sense."

He recommended his pick to the president earlier Thursday and Yoon made the final decision.

According to Article 8 of the Prosecutors' Office Act, the justice minister is the chief superintendent of prosecution affairs and with respect to specific cases can direct and supervise the prosecutor general.

However, it is not a top-down relationship because political neutrality and independence must be guaranteed due to the nature of the prosecution probes.

Yoon served as prosecutor general under the Moon Jae-in administration from June 2019 to March 2021 and joined politics soon after to run for president.

Prosecutors general usually serve two-year terms.

Lee was named ahead of the enforcement of the prosecution reform bill, meant to empower the police by stripping away the prosecution's investigative powers, on Sept. 10.

The announcement came after Yoon marked 100 days in office on Wednesday and promised to heed his low approval ratings and criticism over controversial personnel appointments.

The presidential office will undergo some reorganization and fill more posts in light of that criticism and a shortage of staff, according to presidential officials.

Presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki said in a press briefing Thursday that the president is "currently verifying some candidates" for the health minister and education minister positions. Two candidates for the health minister resigned due to controversies and the education minister, Park Soon-ae, stepped down earlier this month over an unpopular policy to lower the school starting age .

A new senior presidential secretary for public relations could be named as early as Sunday amid reports that People Power Party (PPP) Rep. Kim Eun-hye, a former spokesperson for President-elect Yoon during the transition process, is being eyed for the role.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]