Ministry of Justice Completes Formation of Prosecutor General Candidate Recommendation Committee... Accepting Nominations Until the 22nd

by Choi Sukjin

Published 11 Mar.2021 11:43(KST)

Chairman Appointed: Former Minister of Justice Park Sang-ki

Government Gwacheon Complex, Ministry of Justice.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] On the 11th, Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, completed the formation of the Prosecutor General Candidate Recommendation Committee for selecting the successor to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol.

Former Minister of Justice Park Sang-ki was appointed as the chairperson of the recommendation committee.

The Ministry of Justice announced on the same day that Minister Park appointed 8 external members and 1 internal member, completing the formation of the Prosecutor General Candidate Recommendation Committee.

According to the Prosecutors' Office Act, the Candidate Recommendation Committee consists of 9 members including 1 chairperson: ▲ Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice ▲ Deputy Director of the Court Administration Office ▲ President of the Korean Bar Association ▲ President of the Korean Association of Law Professors ▲ Chairman of the Council of Law Schools ▲ Former Chief Prosecutor or higher rank who served at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and is highly respected in society ▲ Three persons (at least one woman) who have academic knowledge and virtue, are experienced in various professional fields, and do not hold lawyer qualifications, appointed or commissioned by the Minister of Justice. The chairperson is also appointed or commissioned by the Minister.

Ex officio members include Lee Jeong-su, Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice; Kim Hyung-doo, Deputy Director of the Court Administration Office; Lee Jong-yeop, President of the Korean Bar Association; Jeong Young-hwan, President of the Korean Association of Law Professors; and Han Ki-jung, Chairman of the Council of Law Schools, totaling five members.

Minister Park appointed former Deputy Minister of Justice Gil Tae-gi, former professor of Chonnam National University Law School Ahn Jin, and Son Won-je, editorial writer of Hankyoreh Newspaper, as non-ex officio members in addition to former Minister Park Sang-ki.

The Ministry of Justice stated, "To gather diverse opinions on the candidates for Prosecutor General, non-ex officio members were selected from those with rich experience in various professional fields and who possess academic knowledge and virtue. Former Minister of Justice Park Sang-ki was appointed as chairperson considering his experience and expertise."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice announced the 'Public Notice for Nominations of Candidates for Prosecutor General Recommendation' on the same day.

According to the notice, from the 15th to the 22nd, individuals, corporations, or organizations may confidentially nominate candidates they deem suitable for Prosecutor General in writing (excluding fax and email), specifying the reasons for nomination.

However, candidates for Prosecutor General recommendation are restricted to those with at least 15 years of legal experience according to Articles 27 and 31 of the Prosecutors' Office Act.