Minister Kim Moon-soo: "Even ordinary people don't do that"
"Issue of warrant legitimacy... The president must be fair"
"Discussion on Constitutional Court justices needed in Cabinet meeting"
Regarding next presidential candidate mention: "It's unfortunate"
Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated on the 6th regarding the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, "Basic courtesy must be maintained towards the President of the Republic of Korea."
Minister Kim expressed this opinion during a meeting with reporters at the Government Complex Sejong, saying, "Isn't it the same for ordinary citizens?" He explained, "Aren't there many lawmakers who have been found guilty up to the second trial? The Constitution presumes innocence before a court ruling, and they are treated accordingly and even paid salaries, but treating the president, who has not even been indicted, as a criminal is excessive." He also remarked that "public sentiment is turning upside down."
Minister Kim also raised issues regarding the execution of the warrant itself. He said, "Why is it the Western District Court? There are many questions about whether the warrant is legitimate," and added, "The president should be treated fairly as well." He reiterated, "Issuing a harsher and more severe warrant against the president compared to ordinary citizens is problematic."
Regarding media reports that Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, appointed two constitutional court justices at last week's Cabinet meeting and that Minister Kim opposed this, he explained, "It means that it would be better to discuss such matters in advance, and even if consensus is not reached, it is necessary to form opinions during the process."
Minister Kim also said, "At the Cabinet meeting, regardless of support or opposition, it was desirable to discuss important issues together," and added, "Since the president appointed us (Cabinet members), there is a vertical relationship, and the prime minister also has a vertical relationship, but the acting prime minister's acting (Choi) should be seen as a horizontal relationship, so it would be smoother to handle important tasks through discussion and consensus."
When asked whether he would have opposed the appointment of constitutional court justices if there had been a discussion process at the Cabinet meeting, he sharply responded, "The reason the constitutional court justices were not appointed was because the Democratic Party opposed it." Regarding the opposition party's impeachment of the prime minister over the failure to appoint constitutional court justices, he said, "What did that person do wrong?" and added, "I absolutely cannot understand it."
Regarding recent mentions of Minister Kim as a conservative candidate for the next presidential election, he expressed regret, saying, "I feel sorry about it." He explained, "Our society seems to be quite frustrated and thirsty. People like me should be forgotten and just do well in the Ministry of Employment, but suddenly appearing in presidential candidate preference polls is regrettable."
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