Ministry of Justice suspends Prosecutor Choi Jae-hyun's pay for one month for poor management of bundled cash bands
A summary of the key issues in Prosecutor Choi Jae-hyun's disciplinary action and the controversy over the management of seized evidence in the Geonjin Bopsa case Quickly check the judgment on violations of seizure and reporting obligations, as well as the background to the no-charge decision
The Ministry of Justice has imposed a onemonth pay cut on Deputy Chief Prosecutor Choi Jaehyun of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, who had issues with the management of seized items related to shaman Jeon Seongbae, also known as "Geonjinbeopsa."
During his tenure at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office in December 2024, Prosecutor Choi seized KRW 50 million in cash from Jeon’s home, bundled with bank straps and wrapped in plastic packaging for officially sealed cash, but it was reported that he did not sufficiently record the details in the seizure inventory, resulting in the related packaging and straps being damaged or discarded.
He was also found to have violated his official duties by failing to report to his superiors even after learning in January 2025 that the straps had been discarded. However, after compiling the investigation results, the standing special prosecutor and the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office determined it was simple negligence and decided not to indict him.