[Inside Chodong] The Justice Minister's Silence

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] At the end of January, even before his inauguration ceremony, the new Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye’s visit to a detention center was refreshing. It was seen as a response to criticism that the previous minister had been solely focused on disciplining the Prosecutor General and neglected the outbreak of group infections in correctional facilities. The determination that ‘people’s livelihood comes first’ was clearly conveyed, despite the battered state of the prosecution.

Now, five months later, Minister Park’s concern about the resurgence of COVID-19 appears ‘selective.’ Amid the spread of the faster-transmitting Delta variant, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a large-scale illegal rally in downtown areas. However, the head of the Ministry of Justice, which has declared ‘establishing law and order’ as its vision, did not issue a single warning message.

Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, right after a conservative group rally last August, stated, "Public authority must protect the lives of the people, and the public must see that such authority is alive to trust it," adding that she had instructed prosecutors to seek the maximum legal penalties. She also identified the investigation of the background and prior collusion regarding how the rally participants were mobilized simultaneously as a target.

At that time, Park Beom-gye, then a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, further pressed former Minister Choo. He said, "A lightning-fast investigation is absolutely necessary" regarding acts that obstruct quarantine, and specifically requested, "Please inform the public about the degree and risk of such obstruction and what risks it may pose to the government’s future quarantine measures." On the same day, Park also said, "Only the President is lamenting every day." This time, President Moon Jae-in only issued a brief message two days after the rally ended, without mentioning the KCTU, stating, "Legal measures cannot be avoided."

Regarding last year’s conservative group rally, President Moon described it as "an unforgivable act threatening the lives of the people, an antisocial crime," and ordered a strong response. At that time, Chief of Staff Noh Young-min even used the term ‘murderer.’ Compared to this, the current government’s response can only be called ‘selective quarantine enforcement.’

Minister Park cannot be free from the view of ‘selective livelihood’ either. Despite 15 field visits and inspections of 23 sites during his first 100 days in office, as Minister of Justice, he should have taken a firm stance against quarantine violations regardless of political faction. Although he visited a foreigner-dense area the day before, distributing masks and urging citizens to follow quarantine rules, ignoring illegal acts makes it difficult to avoid criticism.

Minister Park has endured power struggles with the new Prosecutor General and internal opposition while positioning himself as the ‘finishing pitcher’ of the Moon administration’s prosecution reform. He has carried out organizational restructuring and unprecedented personnel appointments. However, it would be problematic if he drifts further away from the Ministry of Justice’s vision of ‘establishing law and order.’

Minister Park once criticized the prosecution, asking, "Why is Seocho-dong quiet? Is there no interest?" regarding last year’s conservative group rally. He is a ‘politician-turned-minister,’ but he is no longer a politician. If the Ministry of Justice’s response to illegal rallies varies depending on the target, how can the public trust and follow quarantine measures? As the fourth wave of COVID-19 approaches, public fatigue is piling up layer upon layer. If the Minister of Justice, who is responsible for people’s livelihood, does not want to be accused of double standards, he must heed his own words and be cautious not to cross the final line in the name of coexistence.

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