Sources: Lee intends to name new prosecutor-general at early date

SEOUL, July 12 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak intends to name a new chief of the prosecution at an early date -- possibly as early as Wednesday -- in order to stabilize the organization shaken by an investigative rights dispute, sources said.
Prosecutor-General Kim Joon-gyu left office last week in protest of the parliament's passage of a bill that prosecutors claim restricts their oversight of police investigations. The resignation came less than two months before Kim's term was scheduled to end in mid-August.
Sources at the presidential office said Lee intends to fill the post as early as possible.
Leading candidates for the post include Cha Dong-min, head of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, and Han Sang-dae, chief of the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office.
Media reports have said Lee could also nominate a new justice minister at the same time.
Senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Kwon Jae-jin has been talked about as the most likely candidate to replace Lee Kwi-nam as justice minister, though Kwon's appointment could spark criticism that it could affect the prosecution's political neutrality in next year's major elections.