Who is leading South Korea’s committee to select the next prosecutor general?

Former Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il is chairing the nine-member committee established by the justice ministry to recommend candidates for the position.

What are the eligibility requirements and selection steps for South Korea’s next prosecutor general?

Applicants must have at least 15 years of legal experience, and the justice ministry will accept public recommendations for eight days from Wednesday. The committee will recommend three candidates to the justice minister, who will choose one to put forward to President Lee Jae Myung.

How will the new prosecutor general’s role change after South Korea’s prosecution reform?

The prosecutor general will head the Prosecution Service, which launched Oct. 2 as part of a reform that stripped prosecutors of their independent investigative powers. The position will continue to carry a two-year term.

Process begins to select Lee administration's 1st prosecutor general

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Summary

The Lee Jae Myung administration began the process Tuesday in Seoul to select its first prosecutor general after the post remained vacant for one year and three months. The justice ministry formed a nine-member recommendation committee chaired by former Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il. The new prosecutor general will lead the restructured Prosecution Service, which launched Oct. 2 after prosecutors lost their independent investigative powers.

Key Facts

The justice ministry will accept public recommendations for prosecutor general candidates for eight days beginning Wednesday.
Candidates must have at least 15 years of experience in the legal profession.
The recommendation committee will review candidates and submit three names to the justice minister, who will select one for recommendation to President Lee Jae Myung.
The prosecutor general will serve a two-year term, as before.
Former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung resigned in July last year after being appointed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 13, 2026 4:12 pm KST

Officials enter the Public Prosecution Service headquarters in Seoul's Seocho District, Oct. 2. Yonhap

The Lee Jae Myung administration on Tuesday began the process of selecting its first prosecutor general, a post that has remained vacant for one year and three months.

The justice ministry announced the formation of a nine-member committee, including a chairperson, to recommend candidates for prosecutor general in accordance with the law.

Former Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il, who served as the first prosecutor general under the former Moon Jae-in administration, will chair the committee, the ministry said.

The post has remained vacant after former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, who was appointed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, resigned in July last year.

The new prosecutor general will head the Prosecution Service, which was launched Oct. 2 as part of a recent reform aimed at stripping prosecutors of their independent investigative powers. The prosecutor general will serve a two-year term, as before.

The justice ministry will accept public recommendations for candidates for eight days from Wednesday. Candidates must have at least 15 years of experience in the legal profession.

The recommendation committee will then review the candidates' qualifications and recommend three individuals to the justice minister, who will select one candidate to be recommended to President Lee Jae Myung.

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