[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] On the 10th, Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, emphasized the need for institutional improvement, saying that when he hears the term "publication of suspect facts," former President Roh Moo-hyun comes to mind.
On the same day, Park posted on his social media (SNS) stating this and wrote, "In any case, the recent attention on the publication of suspect facts is a meaningful event," adding, "Let's definitely achieve institutional improvement regardless of sides."
He then quoted part of a media article from January when he was a ministerial nominee. The article mentioned that during his time as a member of the National Assembly in December 2012, he had emphasized institutional improvement by proposing a revision to the Criminal Act to establish grounds for exemption from illegality regarding the publication of suspect facts.
The controversy over the publication of suspect facts ignited recently following reports related to the investigation of the illegal travel ban case involving former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui. Ahead of the April 7 by-elections, Minister Park warned about the publication of suspect facts, and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office ordered the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and Suwon District Prosecutors' Office to verify the facts. However, criticism has arisen that Park selectively raised the issue by not mentioning the leak of investigation details concerning former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's family to certain media outlets while pointing out the publication of suspect facts.
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