President Yoon Suk Yeol poses with new Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung after presenting him with a letter of appointment at the presidential office in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap Shim Woo-jung's inauguration ceremony scheduled for Thursday By Kwak Yeon-soo Shim Woo-jung, Korea's new prosecutor general, faces an uphill battle handling various politically sensitive cases, including allegations against first lady Kim Keon Hee and former President Moon Jae-in, all while trying to restore public trust in the country’s scandal-ridden judicial system, according to political watchers, Wednesday. The former vice justice minister stressed the importance of upholding legal principles and maintaining political neutrality.
“I will do my best to abide by the independence of the prosecution and neutrality from political influences. The prosecution will investigate according to legal principles based on evidence without any other considerations,” Shim said during a National Assembly confirmation hearing on Sept. 3.
Shim, who assumed the office on Monday, is tasked primarily with completing the investigation into the luxury gift case involving the first lady. The investigation review panel of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, comprising 15 outside experts, recommended against indicting Kim on Sept. 6, concluding that her acceptance of a Dior bag and other gifts from Korean American pastor Choi Jae-young in 2022 was not related to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official duties.
The panel’s d.