Kim Oh-soo, who said "I will give my opinion," when will he meet Park Beom-gye... "A surprise meeting is also possible"

Kim Oh-soo, the nominee for Prosecutor General, is wearing a mask properly while attending the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 26th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] When will Kim Oh-soo, the Prosecutor General who takes office this afternoon, meet with Park Beom-gye, the Minister of Justice?

As Kim begins his term today, the legal community's attention is focused on when the two will meet to discuss opinions on prosecution-related issues.

This is because the tasks piled up before Prosecutor General Kim seem difficult to resolve without coordination with Minister Park.

Upon inauguration, Prosecutor General Kim must simultaneously make politically burdensome decisions. These include large-scale prosecution personnel appointments, organizational restructuring plans, and handling investigations related to figures in the current administration.

In particular, the issues of prosecution personnel appointments and organizational restructuring have emerged as urgent matters. The prosecution has recently experienced confusion due to personnel standards and restructuring plans reflecting Minister Park's intentions.

The Ministry of Justice's plan centers on eliminating the distinction between high prosecutors and district prosecutors to reverse seniority as a means to resolve the 'personnel backlog,' and restructuring the organization to abolish the direct investigative authority over six major crimes by the criminal division.

In response, four executives, including Cho Sang-chul, Seoul High Prosecutor General, Oh In-seo, Suwon High Prosecutor General, and Bae Seong-beom, Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, submitted their resignations within a day.

Depending on the stance Prosecutor General Kim expresses upon meeting Minister Park, the wave of resignations among executives may increase or decrease. He stated that his top priority is "stabilizing the prosecution organization." The issue of Lee Seong-yoon, Seoul Central District Prosecutor General, who is reportedly likely to be promoted despite being indicted for investigation interference, is also a major concern within the prosecution. Kim said at the recent confirmation hearing, "I will provide an appropriate opinion once I take office."

According to legal community sources, it is unlikely they will meet tomorrow. Kim has no confirmed schedule other than paying respects at the National Cemetery tomorrow, but Minister Park is somewhat busy. Park must attend a 'Joint Briefing on the Interim Results of Real Estate Speculation Investigation and Prosecution' at 3 p.m. at the Government Seoul Office with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum and others. Related meetings are also scheduled before and after the briefing. Then at 4:30 p.m., he must attend a startup support meeting.

However, it is expected that it will not take long before the two meet. Since the Ministry of Justice plans to complete prosecution personnel appointments by early to mid-this month, it is likely that Minister Park will meet with Prosecutor General Kim to seek his opinion before then. This week appears to be the most probable time for the meeting.

Based on precedent, there is also a possibility of a 'surprise meeting' at an unexpected time. A legal community official said, "Usually, meetings between the Prosecutor General and the Minister of Justice are often held privately, suddenly, and without prior notice. It could happen this time as well."

Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Kim will have no special schedule in the morning and will move to the Blue House in the afternoon to receive his appointment letter from President Moon Jae-in. He will then immediately proceed to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office for the inauguration ceremony.

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