▲ Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice, speaks upon arriving at his confirmation hearing preparation office set up at the Jeokseon Hyundai Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd.
Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, emphasized today (the 3rd) regarding the dropping of the indictment in President Lee Jae-myung's case, "The Minister of Justice has no direct authority, and I have no intention of issuing directives through the Prosecutor General."
Regarding the disposition of suspension of indictment he received in the past after requesting the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to swiftly process clinical trials for a COVID-19 treatment, he stated, "It was an unjust disposition," and expressed his stance to clear his name through a constitutional petition.
Arriving at his confirmation hearing preparation office set up at the Jeokseon Hyundai Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, for the first time today, Nominee Kim responded to a question about his stance on dropping the indictment by saying, "As a lawmaker, I conveyed the public's stance that the state must rectify the wrongs of a case that was fabricated and indicted through illegal investigations."
He continued, "As a nominee for Minister of Justice, I will follow the law and principles," emphasizing, "Because trial prosecutors hold the authority to maintain indictments for individual cases, I will respect that authority."
When asked whether he would exercise the minister's right to direct investigations, he drew a line, stating, "It is a matter for the prosecutor in charge of maintaining the indictment to decide," and "I have no intention whatsoever of reviewing the minister's directive power."
Nominee Kim served as a co-representative alongside lawmaker Yoon Kun-young in the "Association of Lawmakers for Dropping the Indictment and Promoting a Parliamentary Investigation into President Lee Jae-myung's Case."
Nominee Kim has repeatedly expressed his opinion that the indictment in President Lee's case should be dropped.
In January, he held a press conference with Democratic Party lawmakers from Gyeonggi Province, arguing, "The case of President Lee Jae-myung, which was fabricated and indicted by political prosecutors, must have its indictment dropped right now."
When the association of lawmakers for dropping the indictment was launched in February, he took on the role of co-representative and systematically led related discussions.
Regarding reporters' questions today about allegations of lobbying the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Nominee Kim argued, "Although the prosecution mobilized about 10 prosecutors for intensive investigations over three years starting in 2021, they reached a decision not to indict." He added, "Even though a disposition of non-indictment was appropriate, they issued a suspension of indictment based on certain actions, which I believe is unjust."
He added, "I filed a constitutional petition last year, and I understand that the Constitutional Court is currently reviewing the case," noting, "I want to clear my name to the end."
Regarding allegations that a judge with close ties to Nominee Kim handled the warrant review for the related case, he replied, "The prosecution investigated everything over a long period and was aware of the relevant details. Despite that, I believe they reached a non-indictment decision based on the conclusion that there was no illicit solicitation or provision of favors, and that the approval process proceeded normally."
Regarding his past record of defending sex crime cases, he stated, "One case was taken on by the law firm I belonged to, but I did not actively participate in it, and I defended the other case according to my usual convictions," while also adding, "I humbly reflect on the parts that did not meet the public's expectations."
Sharing his thoughts on his nomination, Nominee Kim stated, "I feel a strong sense of responsibility in ensuring that the new criminal justice system, being implemented for the first time in 70 years, settles in without causing inconvenience to the public," and added, "I will also swiftly resolve delays in case handling to alleviate public inconvenience."
He continued, "I want to elevate South Korea's standing as a 'K-rights nation' where universal human rights are guaranteed and socially vulnerable groups can pursue their rights and happiness without unjust discrimination and prejudice."
He emphasized that he would build a robust national protection system to support crime victims in recovering from their damage and returning to daily life, while also supporting criminals so they can gain the strength to return to society through correction and rehabilitation.
Additionally, he presented tasks such as expanding AI-based judicial support and revising the Civil Act, the Commercial Act, and the Family Litigation Act, stating, "I will ensure that a small minority of cartels do not enjoy unjust privileges and that the public, including ordinary citizens and the middle class, can use the judicial system equally and fairly."
Regarding immigration and border policies as well as foreign worker issues, Nominee Kim added, "I will strive to become a nominee and minister who can well organize these matters in the direction of inclusion and integration."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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