Challenges Facing New Blue House Aides Han Chan-sik and Park Ji-young, Both Former Prosecutors

Despite Ruling Coalition Concerns, Former Prosecutors Appointed to Blue House Civil Affairs Team Ahead of Launch of Public Prosecution Service and Serious Crime Investigation Office
Pragmatic Personnel Choices Aimed at Completing Reforms Without Conf

During his second year in office, President Lee Jae-myung has appointed former prosecutors to key positions at the forefront of implementing prosecutorial reform as part of the Blue House reshuffle. The newly appointed figures include Han Chansik, the new Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and a former chief prosecutor, and Park Ji-young, the new Judicial System Secretary and a former prosecutor. The post of Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs has now been filled three consecutive times by senior prosecutors, following former secretaries Oh Gwang-su and Bong Wook. Their main task is to solidify the framework for overhauling the criminal justice system within the prosecution organization, ahead of the abolition of the Prosecutors’ Office and the launch of the Public Prosecution Office and the Major Crimes Investigation Agency scheduled for October.

Chief Secretary Kang Hoon-sik is briefing about personnel related to aides newly appointed by President Lee Jae-myung at the Blue House press conference hall on the 21st. From the left are Public Relations and Communication Secretary Sung Gi-hong, former president of Yonhap News Agency; Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Han Chansik, attorney at Kim & Chang Law Office; Chief Secretary Kang; Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Kim Kyung-ja, adjunct professor at Woosuk University; First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Kang Geonjak, member of the Presidential Future Defense Strategy Committee; and Third Deputy Director of the National Security Office Song Gi-ho, economic security secretary. 2026.6.21

Despite concerns from within the ruling bloc regarding the appointment of former prosecutors, the Blue House has once again highlighted the pragmatic nature of these personnel choices. Han, the new secretary, previously served as Director of Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice and as Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. Park, the new secretary, led the Prosecutorial Reform Task Force at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office during the Moon Jae-in administration. The appointments are based on the assessment that individuals with in-depth knowledge of investigative procedures, trial maintenance, case transfers, and interagency coordination are necessary to minimize confusion when the new system is launched.

On the 21st, Chief Secretary Kang Hoon-sik stated regarding Han, "He will ensure the seamless completion of prosecutorial reform, including the establishment of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Office." This underscores that the appointments were made to 'complete' the already designed reform agenda. On the 22nd, Kang Yoo-jung, Chief Spokesperson of the Blue House, appeared on MBC Radio’s "Kwon Soon-pyo’s News High Kick" and acknowledged, "It is difficult for the position of Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs to be filled with unanimous public approval," but added, "There are clear expectations for the role, and internal evaluations identified him as the right person for the job. He has been recognized as someone capable of focusing on the work without dividing sides."

A Blue House official also commented on Park, stating, "She is a legal professional who has accumulated extensive practical experience and proven competence through various key roles within the prosecution," and added, "With her outstanding expertise and experience in the overall judicial system, she is the right person to effectively and swiftly carry out complex judicial reform tasks without disruption."

Special Prosecutor Ji-Young Park is speaking at a briefing held at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu on July 15, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News

However, controversy and concerns within the ruling bloc are likely to persist. Prosecutorial reform originated from awareness of prosecutorial power abuse, but by entrusting its implementation to former prosecutors, suspicions have again arisen within sections of the ruling bloc that the intensity of reform might be weakened. In particular, Han, while serving as Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, led the investigation into the "Ministry of Environment blacklist" allegations targeting the Moon Jae-in administration, indicting former Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyung and former Blue House Secretary for Balanced Personnel Affairs Shin Mi-sook. While their familiarity with the prosecution is an advantage, it could also become an obstacle by casting doubt on the sincerity of the reform effort.

The most sensitive issue regarding the direction of prosecutorial reform at present is the 'supplementary investigation right.' Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has reiterated his opposition to leaving any investigative authority with prosecutors in the new Public Prosecution Office, insisting that "the complete abolition of the supplementary investigation right is only natural." On the other hand, Minister of Justice Jeong Seong-ho questioned, "If the prosecution cannot intervene at all in the results of the first investigative agency, what alternatives exist to protect victims?" At his first anniversary press conference, President Lee restated the principle that "while it is necessary to exclude the prosecution’s authority, the public must not be harmed," thus passing the matter to the National Assembly. The direct clash between mistrust of the prosecution and concerns about a judicial vacuum is a core issue that Secretary Park will have to address going forward.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Senior Secretary Meeting held at the Blue House on the 19th. June 19, 2026 Yonhap News Agency Photo by Yonhap

The roles of these two individuals are to prevent such conflicts and fill any gaps that may arise during the implementation of reform tasks. They must establish clear control mechanisms to ensure that the prosecution cannot directly expand its investigative domain again, while also proposing realistic solutions to guarantee the minimum necessary procedures for maintaining prosecution and protecting victims. They are also expected to serve as competent mediators—political coordination will be the responsibility of the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, while system operation and practical procedures fall to the Judicial System Secretary. A ruling party official commented, "Prosecutorial reform has now entered the phase of actual implementation, with the new agencies being launched and the criminal justice system being put into operation," and added, "Their challenge is to successfully carry out state tasks without confusion, despite ongoing suspicions due solely to their prosecution backgrounds."

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