On the eve of a major restructuring that establishes the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) and the Prosecution Service, Lim Eun-jung, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, held a closed-door farewell ceremony. She is stepping down from her long-standing prosecutorial post to transition into a Grade 1 investigator role at the newly formed SCIA.

According to legal circles on the 1st, Chief Prosecutor Lim delivered an emotional parting speech at the Seoul Eastern District office. "Together with my colleagues moving to the SCIA, we leave behind the proud names of the Republic of Korea's prosecutors and investigative officers right here," she reflected, marking a bittersweet end to her tenure.

A Historic Transition Born from Reform

Lim described the moment as a time of profound transition: "We are leaving behind the heartfelt sorrow and the shameful dark history of the past to head toward a new tomorrow." She pointedly added, "Our current situation is a sorrowful consequence brought about by an institution that was once a perpetrator of its era."

Visibly moved, Lim fought back tears during her speech, admitting, "It is disheartening, but this is the time to face reality squarely and find our proper direction and path."

A member of the 30th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, Lim has long been recognized as a prominent reform-oriented figure within the prosecution. Throughout her career, she consistently voiced internal criticism of the organization and advocated fiercely for systemic reform.

Looking Ahead: The New Leadership at Seoul Eastern

As Lim transitions to her new investigative duties at the SCIA, the newly reorganized Seoul Eastern District Prosecution Service will see a change in leadership. Former Ministry of Justice Legal Affairs Office Director Seo Jung-min has been appointed to helm the office.

This restructuring marks a monumental turning point in South Korea's judicial history, effectively separating investigative powers from the traditional prosecution framework—a structural reform that reformers like Lim have championed for years.