Preventing Wage Arrears and Compensating Coin Scam Victims... Prosecution Strengthens Public Interest Representation

Prosecution Launches Dedicated Public Interest Representation Team
Protecting Adult Learners' Right to Education in Place of Missing School Principal
Restoring Legal Status of Homeless Individual Declared Dead for 12 Years

The prosecution has strengthened its role as a public representative for citizens in legal blind spots, such as by filing for the appointment of property managers for educational institutions facing wage arrears and recovering hidden assets of virtual asset fraudsters to compensate victims.

On the 9th, the Taegeukgi and the prosecution flags were fluttering in the wind in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office building, as it was reported that Gwak Junggeun, former Special Warfare Commander, was summoned for investigation by the Special Investigation Headquarters for Emergency Martial Law. Photo by Huh Younghan

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced on May 11, 2026, that since March 2024, it has operated a dedicated "Public Interest Representation Team" consisting of one chief prosecutor, two prosecutors, and one investigator, systematically handling related work.

The prosecution recently intervened directly to prevent disruption in the educational field. On May 6, it filed a petition with the court to appoint an absentee property manager for an accredited lifelong educational institution whose representative had been unaccounted for over an extended period. When the representative disappeared, there arose a risk of adult learners' educational programs being suspended and staff wages going unpaid. The prosecution acted swiftly to appoint a property manager and helped normalize the school's operations.

The prosecution also took active steps to protect the rights of the socially disadvantaged. Upon learning of a suspect who, after business failure and a traffic accident, had been presumed dead for 12 years and lived homeless before committing theft out of hunger, the prosecution filed to cancel the declaration of disappearance to restore his legal status. Afterward, his detention was revoked, and the case was conditionally suspended in connection with the Korea Rehabilitation Agency for Ex-Offenders, on the condition of completing job training, supporting his rehabilitation. In addition, in a case where a father chained and assaulted the child's biological mother in front of their three-year-old child, resulting in her death, the prosecution convened a child abuse case management meeting and petitioned for the loss of parental rights and the appointment of a guardian to protect the child victim.

There were also efforts to support crime victims and ensure fair asset liquidation. Regarding a virtual asset investment scammer who had fled to Cambodia and was declared missing, the prosecution secured his custody, had the missing declaration canceled, sold the virtual assets in his name, and returned the proceeds to the victims. Furthermore, in the case of the K-Sports Foundation, which was established during the state corruption scandal and later had its license revoked, the prosecution petitioned for the dismissal of the unsuitable liquidator and arranged for a new one to be appointed, thus contributing to the return of approximately 23 billion won in assets to the national treasury.

A prosecution official stated, "We will continue to actively carry out public interest representation work to protect the property rights of socially disadvantaged groups such as children, the disabled, and the elderly, as well as the general public," adding, "We will closely cooperate with local governments and other organizations to ensure comprehensive legal support for vulnerable groups."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.