New Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae Shows Determination with 'Prosecutor Personnel Reshuffle', Inauguration Ceremony Today...Focus on Inaugural Speech Message

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Chu Mi-ae, the newly appointed Minister of Justice, takes office today (the 3rd).

According to the Ministry of Justice, Minister Chu will arrive at the Government Complex Gwacheon in the morning, hold an inauguration ceremony, and officially begin her duties. The inauguration ceremony will be held at the underground auditorium of the Government Complex Gwacheon.

Previously, Minister Chu received President Moon Jae-in's approval for her appointment at 7 a.m. the day before and received her appointment letter in the afternoon. Her term officially began at midnight the previous day. She has already started her activities as minister by paying respects at the National Cemetery and attending the government’s New Year ceremony.

Inside and outside the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution, attention is focused on what message Minister Chu will deliver regarding prosecutorial reform and related issues in her inaugural speech. The Ministry of Justice has decided to replace the New Year's address with the new minister’s inaugural speech. Minister Chu, following former ministers Park Sang-ki and Cho Kuk, is the third Minister of Justice under the Moon Jae-in administration and is entrusted with the important task of completing prosecutorial reform, a key national agenda.

In particular, there is attention on the expectation that she will immediately implement drastic personnel changes in the prosecution. Amid the sharp confrontation between the government and the prosecution over investigations targeting the Blue House, Minister Chu has emerged as a variable who can decide personnel appointments concerning close aides of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and prosecution executives.

At the appointment ceremony the day before, Minister Chu criticized recent prosecution investigations, saying, “A skilled doctor accurately diagnoses and properly removes the affected area,” and added, “The prosecution does not gain trust by recklessly stabbing while neglecting human rights and obtaining the desired results.” This is interpreted as her intention to actively push for prosecution personnel changes and a direct criticism of the prosecution’s investigative methods. She also stated, “I will do my best to ensure that this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for reform does not pass in vain.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.