Park Beom-gye, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who has been nominated as the new Minister of Justice, is leaving his office at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 30th to express his feelings about being nominated as the Minister of Justice. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Attention is focused on the actions of Park Beom-gye, the nominee for Minister of Justice, who will take over the baton of ‘prosecutorial reform’ from Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae.
In an investigative environment that will be completely changed by the launch of the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Agency (HOSA) and the implementation of the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and the police, it is up to him to establish the status and role of the prosecution.
While the relationship with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is drawing attention regarding sensitive current issue investigations such as the ‘Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant economic feasibility evaluation manipulation’ and the ‘drunken assault by Deputy Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu,’ the immediate priority is responding to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) originating from Seoul Eastern Detention Center.
On the morning of the 31st, Park, who arrived at his office in the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, plans to open the personnel hearing preparation office in the afternoon and begin full-scale preparation for the confirmation hearing. Since he is currently a member of the National Assembly, it is known that his current aides will mainly prepare for the confirmation hearing together with the Ministry of Justice.
As the Blue House announced the day before, Minister Chu will continue to perform her duties until Park passes the confirmation hearing and is appointed, fulfilling her final responsibility.
Mission to ‘Complete Prosecutorial Reform’... Expected to Show a Different Tone from Chu
Park’s first words upon appointment were also ‘prosecutorial reform.’ Through activities such as the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Judicial Reform, he has consistently expressed strong convictions about prosecutorial reform.
However, since his predecessor Minister Chu was effectively dismissed after being too focused on ‘ousting’ Prosecutor General Yoon, casting doubt on the essence and purity of prosecutorial reform under the current administration, Park, who has appeared as a savior, is expected to pursue prosecutorial reform with a different tone from Minister Chu.
His mention immediately after being nominated of ‘prosecutorial reform through stable cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution’ as President Moon Jae-in’s directive also supports this view. Stabilizing the prosecution organization, which was shaken by collective resistance against Minister Chu, is also urgent.
This aligns with the ruling party’s setting of institutional reforms such as ‘complete separation of investigation and prosecution’ and ‘establishment of a prosecution office’ as the direction for prosecutorial reform season 2, rather than personnel renewal of the prosecution.
Focus on Relationship with Prosecutor General Yoon... Prosecution’s Atmosphere ‘Positive’ for Now
What draws the most attention is the relationship with Prosecutor General Yoon.
Although they are classmates from the Judicial Research and Training Institute, Park, who is three years younger, once called Yoon “Righteous Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol hyung (older brother).” However, his attitude changed during the investigation of former Minister Cho Kuk last year, and at the National Assembly inspection in October, he criticized Yoon by saying “He has changed,” and “Yoon Seok-yeol’s justice is selective justice.”
The relationship with Prosecutor General Yoon is expected to be first gauged by how and to what extent Yoon’s opinions will be reflected in the upcoming personnel appointments of senior prosecution officials scheduled for next month.
There is also interest in what stance Park will take in investigations into the ‘Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant’ case targeting the administration, the upper echelons of the Yoo Jae-soo inspection cover-up case, and the investigation of Deputy Minister Lee, who is a pro-government figure.
Responding to and preparing measures for the serious spread of COVID-19 within detention facilities is also one of the top priorities.
Within the prosecution, there is a prevailing atmosphere of expectation that things will improve in every aspect compared to Minister Chu’s tenure.
A senior prosecution official A said, “Since he has been in politics for a long time and especially through his activities in the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, he understands the nature of the prosecution well, so we expect him to perform his duties as minister rationally.”
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