President Moon Appoints Kang Seong-guk, Chief of Legal Affairs, as New Deputy Minister of Justice (Update)

Former Judge Reappointed as Deputy Minister of Justice... "High Understanding of Overall Ministry of Justice Operations"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] President Moon Jae-in has nominated Kang Seong-guk, the Legal Affairs Director of the Ministry of Justice, as the new Deputy Minister of Justice.

Park Kyung-mi, the Blue House spokesperson, said on the 13th, "President Moon Jae-in has today nominated Kang Seong-guk, the Legal Affairs Director of the Ministry of Justice, as the Deputy Minister of Justice. He will be appointed as of tomorrow (the 14th)."

Spokesperson Park added, "Based on his deep understanding of the overall affairs of the Ministry of Justice and his outstanding legal expertise, we expect him to actively and steadily promote the Ministry's urgent tasks such as justice and prosecution reform, and policies on crimes against women and children."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Deputy Minister of Justice position had been vacant since former Deputy Minister Lee Yong-gu resigned on May 28. As it became known that Kang had undergone personnel screening at the Blue House, he was regarded as a leading candidate within and outside the legal community.

Kang, originally from Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, graduated from Mokpo High School and Korea University’s Department of Law. He is a former judge who served as a presiding judge at the Seoul Central District Court.

After retiring as a judge, he worked as a lawyer at the law firm Jipyung, and in July last year, he was appointed as the Legal Affairs Director of the Ministry of Justice.

Following former Deputy Minister Lee, Kang is also a non-prosecutor. Traditionally, the Deputy Minister of Justice position has been filled by former prosecutors, but consecutively, former judges have been appointed.

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