Kim Seung-won, the nominee for the next Justice Minister from the Democratic Party, stated on August 31, "The most urgent mission is to ensure the successful establishment of a new criminal justice system in South Korea, which has not changed in 70 years."
Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly, Kim expressed, "I feel a heavy sense of responsibility as I have been nominated as the Justice Minister in a government of popular sovereignty."
He added, "I will do my utmost to ensure that the Ministry of Justice fulfills its role as a human rights protection agency as defined in the Constitution, particularly in safeguarding the vulnerable in society."
Kim emphasized that South Korea is entering a period of significant transformation, stating, "I will work diligently to pass various bills that the Ministry of Justice needs to support, such as those aimed at enhancing foreign investment and revitalizing the financial market, while also gathering social consensus."
As a former judge and a lawyer who has engaged in human rights advocacy, he remarked, "I will make every effort to look after and support those in the lower and more challenging parts of society. Ultimately, I will strive to ensure that the people feel that they are the true owners of South Korea as voters."
President Lee Jae-myung nominated Kim as the Justice Minister candidate during a cabinet reshuffle involving six ministries the previous day.
Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff at the Blue House, described Kim as a former judge and a two-term lawmaker who serves as the secretary of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. He noted that Kim deeply understands the purpose of reforming the criminal justice system and is expected to prioritize the protection of victims' rights while swiftly implementing new systems.
Kim is classified as a strong advocate for judicial reform, arguing for the separation of investigative and prosecutorial powers, as well as the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigative authority. He has served as the ruling party's secretary on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee since June 2024.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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