Park Beom-gye, Postpones Inauguration Ceremony to Visit Dongbu Detention Center... Emphasizes "Field-Centered Livelihood"

New Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye is giving a greeting on the 28th during his visit to Seoul Eastern Detention Center, where a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporters Seokjin Choi and Kyunghwan Bae] On the 28th, Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, visited Seoul Dongbu Detention Center as his first official schedule during his term to inspect the COVID-19 quarantine situation.

Minister Park has the responsibility to restore the divided prosecution organization amid the conflict between former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, and to complete prosecution reform by establishing a new relationship between the newly established High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (Gong-su-cheo) and the police and prosecution whose powers have increased.

At 10 a.m. on the same day, Minister Park visited Dongbu Detention Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, received a report on quarantine-related situations and measures, and held a meeting with the staff. Before starting the schedule, he took a rapid antigen test in the first-floor lobby of Dongbu Detention Center and was confirmed negative. He also plans to meet directly with inmates to listen to their grievances. Minister Park postponed the inauguration ceremony originally expected to be held that day.

When asked about his inauguration impression by reporters, he said, "I visited Dongbu Detention Center today with the thought that COVID-19 quarantine is a matter of public livelihood," and added, "I have the idea that the axis of legal administration actions should focus on public livelihood centered on the field in the future."

When asked about other important tasks as minister, he replied, "Of course, prosecution reform. Also, innovation in legal administration is very important."

Regarding prosecution personnel matters, Minister Park said, "I have started to assess the current situation," and added, "I think principles and standards are important, so I am currently planning in that regard." He further stated, "After refining the principles and standards of personnel, I plan to meet with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol."

After entering the detention center, he introduced through his remarks that he announced a strict response policy toward quarantine violators early that morning via social media (SNS).

He emphasized through social media (SNS) announcing the start of his term, "COVID-19 quarantine is public livelihood. The prosecution should consider evading or ignoring quarantine authority measures as a violation of public livelihood and respond strictly." Minister Park also stated that he would refrain from SNS activities such as Facebook in the future.

Minister Park stated that he would deeply contemplate two aspects: the human rights perspective of inmates and how to restore the morale of correctional public officials whose spirits have fallen.

Dongbu Detention Center, where a group infection of over 1,000 COVID-19 cases occurred, has had no additional confirmed cases since the 20th and is soon expected to return to normal operation.

Additional parole to reduce overcrowding in correctional facilities is scheduled soon, and Minister Park must directly inspect the parole targets and scale.

Minister Park said the day before, "When I take office as minister, I will focus on prosecution reform and innovation in legal administration," and added, "After organizing what was emphasized by the hearing preparation team and what I said at the hearing, there were about ten tasks."

Minister Park is expected to soon carry out personnel appointments for prosecution executives. Earlier, he expressed his intention to consult with Prosecutor General Yoon on personnel matters, but it is not easy to make balanced appointments because prosecutors opposing Minister Chu, such as the pro-government 'Chu Mi-ae and Lee Seong-yoon line' and the 'Yoon Seok-yeol faction,' are sharply divided within the prosecution.

It is also of interest whether he will exercise his command authority over prosecution investigations into cases that burden the government, such as the 'taxi driver assault' case involving Deputy Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu, where the police showed signs of lenient investigation, the 'Kim Hak-eui illegal deportation' case, and the 'Wolseong Unit 1 nuclear power plant economic feasibility evaluation manipulation' case.

Additionally, attention is focused on whether he will reinstate Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon to the frontline office before personnel appointments, as Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon has been delaying approval of the 'no charges' disposition.