Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice, expressed his opposition today (the 15th) to granting special prosecutors the power to drop indictments.

During the National Assembly confirmation hearing that day, in response to a related inquiry from People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyung-soo, Nominee Kim stated, "Even as a member of the National Assembly at the time, I opposed including the indictment dismissal provision," adding, "I believe there is no need to do so artificially."

Lawmaker Park also pointed out that Kim's stance had changed, noting that before his nomination, Kim had suggested on a radio broadcast that it would be appropriate for the Minister of Justice to drop indictments, but after his nomination, he stated he had no intention of directing the dismissal of indictments through the Prosecutor General.

In response, Nominee Kim explained, "My previous remarks were made as a lawmaker, voicing public concerns regarding fabricated indictments," and added, "As a nominee for Minister of Justice, I have made a promise to the public that I will act in accordance with the laws and decrees."

The Democratic Party of Korea previously proposed a "fabricated indictment special counsel bill" aimed at investigating suspicions of fabricated investigations and indictments by prosecutors and others during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

The bill includes provisions allowing the special counsel to decide whether to maintain the indictments of transferred cases, which has sparked criticism that the measure is intended to drop the indictment in President Lee Jae-myung's case.

In connection with this, lawmaker Park Hyung-soo criticized, "Numerous citizens who claim they were unfairly subjected to fabrication have fought for and received not-guilty verdicts in court," asking, "Is it not preferential treatment to end the matter for a president through an indictment dismissal?"

In reply, Nominee Kim repeatedly stated his opposition to granting the power of indictment dismissal to the special counsel bill, saying, "I will voice my opinion during the National Assembly's legislative process."

(Photo: Yonhap News)