Seoul: Two regional prosecution chiefs have tendered their resignations following a personnel reshuffle that reassigned them to less influential positions. The move comes after their protest against the prosecution's decision not to appeal a court ruling linked to President Lee Jae Myung, officials reported.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Chang-jin and Park Hyun-chul, who led the district prosecutors' offices in Busan and Gwangju, respectively, announced their decision to step down via an internal bulletin board. Their resignations were announced shortly after the justice ministry revealed the reshuffle, which reassigned three chief prosecutors, including Kim and Park, to research fellow roles at the Institute of Justice.

The reassignment is seen as a demotion from their previous influential positions. Kim and Park were part of a group of 18 chief prosecutors who demanded an explanation from the acting prosecutor general for not appealing the corruption case ruling. The case involves a real estate development project in Seongnam during President Lee's tenure as mayor, and the decision not to appeal has led to significant backlash within the prosecution.

The controversy has sparked speculation that the justice ministry may have exerted undue pressure to prevent an appeal, which could have negatively impacted President Lee. The situation continues to unfold as the prosecution community reacts to the developments.