Prosecutor Seo Hyun-wook, who spearheaded the investigation into the Ssangbangwool North Korean remittance scandal, has tendered his resignation from the Changwon branch of the Busan High Prosecutors’ Office.
On Wednesday, legal sources reported that Prosecutor Seo shared a heartfelt message through the internal prosecution network (Epros). He reminisced that the excitement of his first day as a novice prosecutor still lingers in his heart, yet he’s suddenly realized that two decades have slipped by. He leaves behind cherished memories of his youth here. His deepest gratitude and apologies.
From September 2023, Seo led the Criminal Division 6 at the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office for approximately two years, overseeing the Ssangbangwool North Korean remittance case investigation.
In June 2024, he indicted Lee Jae Myung, then-leader of the Democratic Party, on multiple charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery), the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, and the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act. This action prompted the Democratic Party to file a complaint against Seo, alleging that the indictment was a fabricated charge for political manipulation.
In August of last year, Prosecutor Seo was reassigned to the Changwon branch of the Busan High Prosecutors’ Office, a move widely perceived as a demotion.
Despite Seo’s resignation, its immediate acceptance remains uncertain. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is currently investigating the complaint filed against Seo by the Democratic Party, which may delay the processing of his resignation.