125 prosecutors resigned within a month of the launch of the Public Prosecution Service... Intensifying manpower shortage

86 people moved to the Central Investigation Office, 32 people moved to the entire court… “Allocate appropriate personnel through regular personnel appointments”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Yun-seon = It has been revealed that more than 100 prosecutors have resigned from their positions in the one month since the launch of the Public Prosecution Office.

According to the Ministry of Justice on the 12th, from October 2, when the Public Prosecution Office was launched, to the 1st of this month, the number of prosecutors who retired was 125.

Among them, 86 (68.8%) prosecutors were transferred to the Serious Crimes Investigation Office (SCA), and 32 (25.6%) were transferred to the court.

By experience, 80.0% (100 people) of retirees had more than 5 years of experience, and the remaining 20.0% (25 people) had less than 5 years of experience.

During the same period, 15 prosecutors were newly placed on leave, and there were no new appointments.

The annual number of retired prosecutors remained at 70 to 80 until 2018, then jumped significantly to 111 in 2019, and then decreased again to less than 100 per year.

Then, in 2022, when the investigative powers of the prosecution and police were adjusted, the number rapidly increased to 146, and then the number continued to exceed 100 each year, including 145 in 2023 and 132 in 2024.

Last year, the number was 175, the highest in 10 years.

There are voices inside and outside the Public Prosecution Office that the manpower shortage in front-line offices is reaching a serious level.

An official from the Ministry of Justice said, “We plan to assign appropriate personnel to each office through regular personnel appointments next year.”