Geum Tae-seop: "Concerned Park Beom-gye Might Become Chu Mi-ae Season 2... No Significant Difference"

President Moon appoints Park Beom-gye as successor to Choo Mi-ae... Han Jeong-ae for Environment, Hwang Ki-chul for Veterans Affairs

Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop who left the Democratic Party of Korea.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed concern on the 30th about the nomination of Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-gye as the successor to Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, saying, "There is a worry that it might become Choo Mi-ae Minister Season 2."

On the same day, Geum said on YTN Radio's 'Lee Dong-hyung's News Face-off,' "We need to reconsider whether the current direction of prosecutorial reform is correct and reflect various opinions. However, looking at Park's past actions and statements, I have doubts about whether he will objectively review the matter with a fair perspective."

He added, "Personal morality and work ability will likely be addressed during the confirmation hearing. However, Minister Choo has already apologized," and "Many citizens initially supported the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), equating it with prosecutorial reform, but recently, opposition to amending the law has increased."

Regarding the opinion that the government replaced Minister Choo to change the atmosphere, he said, "To do that, they should have appointed someone with a new perspective and ideas to create a significant change in the atmosphere. But in fact, Park, as a lawmaker, has expressed views on prosecutorial reform that are almost identical to Minister Choo's," adding, "There will likely be criticism that only the person has changed, without introducing any new perspectives or ideas."

Then, Geum emphasized about prosecutorial reform, "It should be pursued consistently and logically," and said, "In fact, the separation of investigation and prosecution rights was the plan I first proposed and strongly advocated, but it does not align with the CIO."

He continued, "If the investigation and prosecution rights of the prosecution are separated, then why does the CIO have both investigation and prosecution rights? This question remains unanswered."

Earlier, President Moon Jae-in nominated lawmaker Park Beom-gye as the Minister of Justice candidate. Lawmaker Han Jeong-ae was nominated as the Minister of Environment candidate, and former Navy Chief of Staff Hwang Ki-chul was nominated as the head of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. The candidates for Minister of Justice and Minister of Environment will be appointed after confirmation hearings in the National Assembly, and the head of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is expected to be appointed today (31st).

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