Appearing Prosecutor Normal Noh Man-seok arrives for work on the Supreme Prosecutors’ Workplace in Seoul’s Seocho District on Nov. 12, 2025. (Yonhap)
Amid clamorous calls for from contained in the Korean prosecution service for performing Prosecutor Normal Noh Man-seok to step down after he declined to enchantment a court docket ruling in a high-profile corruption case linked to President Lee Jae Myung, Noh finally introduced Wednesday that he plans to resign. The president is predicted to just accept Noh’s resignation.
For the reason that prosecution service was already being led by a deputy chief prosecutor within the absence of a prosecutor normal, the service will seemingly be led by an “performing performing prosecutor normal” for a while.
After taking Tuesday off to contemplate his plan of action, Noh confirmed up for work on the Supreme Prosecutors’ Workplace (SPO) in Seoul’s Seocho District on Wednesday and went about his regular duties, receiving briefings from the departmental chief prosecutors till 5:40 pm, when he introduced his intention to step down by way of the SPO’s spokesperson.
Solely 5 days had handed since Noh determined to not enchantment a district court docket’s ruling in a trial of 5 defendants in a case concerning corruption in a growth venture within the Daejang neighborhood of Seongnam throughout Lee’s time period as mayor of the town.
Whereas heading to work on Wednesday, Noh had ignored reporters’ questions on his place on requires his resignation. He headed residence simply after 6 pm after saying his intention to resign.
“We plan to just accept [Noh’s resignation] as soon as we obtain a proposal for his substitute as performing prosecutor normal from the justice minister,” the presidential workplace stated in response.
Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho stated Thursday that he “struggled to know” Noh’s choice to step down.
“If he have been that decided, absolutely he must have requested me to difficulty orders in writing,” Jung added whereas talking earlier than a plenary session of the Nationwide Meeting’s Laws and Judiciary Committee.
Jung additionally voiced issues about collective actions contained in the prosecution service, together with the demand for Noh’s resignation.
“I believe it’s extremely undesirable for chief prosecutors to collectively specific their opinion about whether or not or not particular person court docket rulings ought to be appealed,” Jung additionally commented throughout a plenary session of the Nationwide Meeting’s Particular Committee on Funds and Accounts.
The ruling Democratic Social gathering, which has described the inner rumblings towards the choice to not enchantment the court docket’s ruling as “insubordination and mutiny towards the state,” has pledged to amend the Act on Self-discipline of Prosecutors to allow prosecutors to be terminated with prejudice.
“In distinction with different public servants, the Act on Self-discipline of Prosecutors doesn’t permit termination with prejudice for insubordination. That’s a privilege we intend to eradicate. We’ll revise the legislation in order that insubordinate prosecutors may be disciplined with each commonplace termination and termination with prejudice beneath the State Public Officers Act,” stated Kim Byung-kee, the ground chief of the Democratic Social gathering, throughout a gathering of the social gathering’s Supreme Council.
The Democratic Social gathering has not issued a separate assertion about Noh’s intention to resign, solely saying it’ll “monitor developments for now,” however the high opposition Individuals Energy Social gathering went on the warpath.
“It is a basic instance of getting a decrease official fall on his sword to guard President Lee. As an alternative of cowering behind a young of resignation, Noh must apologize earlier than the nation for such a flagrant disregard of the folks’s expectation of justice from the judicial department. We additionally hope he’ll present a full account of who was answerable for that call and what exterior strain was dropped at bear,” stated Park Sung-hoon, a senior spokesperson for the PPP.
By Kim Ji-eun, employees reporter; Bae Ji-hyun, employees reporter
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