Park Beom-gye, First Day at Hearing Preparation Office... Avoids Direct Answers to All Questions Including 'Relationship with Prosecutor General Yoon'

On the 31st, Park Beom-gye, the nominee for Minister of Justice, responded to reporters' questions while on his way to the confirmation hearing preparation office set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Park Beom-gye, the nominee for Minister of Justice, showed a cautious response on the 31st when asked by reporters about his relationship with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, saying, "I will address this at the confirmation hearing."

On his way to his first day at the confirmation hearing preparation office set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Park was asked by reporters, "Could you please say a few words about how you plan to establish your relationship with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol going forward?" He replied, "As I said yesterday, I am preparing for the confirmation hearing and will speak at the hearing."

When asked about criticisms that it is difficult to expect political neutrality from him as Minister of Justice, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "I will prepare well for that question and address it at the confirmation hearing."

Regarding whether he has any plans in mind for the prosecution personnel changes in January next year, Park responded, "I don't have the time to think that far ahead."

He will begin full-scale preparation for the confirmation hearing starting with a meeting with the confirmation hearing preparation team on the same day.

The preparation team consists of Lee Sang-gap, Director of the Human Rights Bureau at the Ministry of Justice, as the support team leader, and Cha Soon-gil, Director of the Public Criminal Division, as the general team leader.

Additionally, Deputy Team Leaders (in charge of vision) are Kang Sang-muk, Head of the Reform Legislation Promotion Team; Shin Sang, Team Leader; Lee Eung-cheol, Director of the Criminal Legislation Division; Ryu Guk-ryang, Director of the Criminal Planning Division as the response team leader; and Kim Sang-kwon, Innovation Administration Officer, as the administrative support team leader.

Park Cheol-woo, the current spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, will serve as the public relations team leader, acting as the communication channel with the media.

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