President Lee Jae-myung accepted the resignation of acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok on Friday amid an internal feud over the prosecution's decision not to appeal a high-profile corruption case. Noh offered to step down two days earlier following backlash from prosecutors. He provided no explanation for the controversial move during his retirement ceremony.
In Seoul on Nov. 14, President Lee Jae-myung accepted the resignation of acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok. Presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-jun told reporters that the approval came two days after Noh tendered his resignation. The move stems from an internal feud within the prosecution over the decision not to appeal a corruption case tied to a real estate development project in Seongnam's Daejang-dong district from 2015, when Lee served as the city's mayor.
Prosecutors dropped the appeal just before last Friday's deadline, sparking strong backlash and suspicions of undue pressure from the justice ministry to favor Lee. In a related trial on Oct. 31, former acting president of Seongnam Development Corp. Yoo Dong-gyu and Hwacheon Daeyu major shareholder Kim Man-bae each received eight-year prison terms for breach of duty, while three others were sentenced to four to six years. The suspects were acquitted of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, which could have led to life imprisonment, making an appeal standard practice.
At his retirement ceremony at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Noh offered no details on the decision, saying, "I accept heavily the fact that I was unable to decide and communicate more convincingly regarding the grave significance of investigating and maintaining prosecutions in a way that everyone could understand." He expressed regret that rank-and-file protests were being labeled as insubordination, referring to calls for discipline from Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho and Democratic Party leaders. "As I am stepping down voluntarily out of consideration for the prosecution's future, I earnestly plead with you to stop discussions of disciplinary action," Noh added.
The justice ministry appointed Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Chief Koo Ja-hyeon as the new deputy prosecutor general in an acting capacity to avoid a leadership vacuum. "I am taking on a heavy responsibility during a difficult time," Koo told reporters. "I will faithfully carry out my duties, placing a top priority on ensuring the stability of the prosecution." The presidential office has remained silent on the turmoil.