Seoul High Prosecutor Koo Ja-hyun has been tapped as the new deputy prosecutor general, after Noh Man-seok left the office amid backlash over the prosecution’s decision not to appeal the Daejang-dong verdict.

The Justice Ministry told KBS the transfer will take effect Saturday, describing the move as necessary to quickly fill the leadership vacuum created by Noh’s departure.

With the prosecutor general post remaining vacant, Koo will also serve as acting prosecutor general for the time being.

Koo previously led the Justice Ministry’s reform task force in 2018 and served as ministry spokesperson during clashes between then-Minister Choo Mi-ae and former prosecutor general Yoon Suk Yeol.

He later held key roles including Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office third chief and Justice Ministry criminal affairs chief, before moving to regional posts under the Yoon administration.

Most recently, Koo oversaw an internal probe into allegations that former Gyeonggi vice governor Lee Hwa-Young was pressured by prosecutors with “salmon and alcohol parties.”