The opposition criticizes the Deputy Minister of Justice repeatedly... "Protecting the 'Sugar Boy' shows a lack of human rights awareness"

People Power Party "Urges Apology from Minister and Vice Minister of Justice"
Kim Jae-won "Mentally Unstable Vice Minister of Justice, Resign"

Deputy Minister of Justice Kang Seong-guk is being supported with an umbrella by an official kneeling behind him during a briefing on the initial settlement support for special entrants from Afghanistan at the National Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon, Chungbuk, on the morning of the 27th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The People Power Party has continuously criticized Deputy Minister of Justice Kang Seong-guk over the 'excessive protocol controversy.' Voices have emerged demanding Kang's apology and resignation, pointing out the Ministry of Justice's low awareness of human rights.

On the 28th, Shin In-gyu, the full-time deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party, issued a statement urging the Ministry of Justice to "call for Deputy Minister Kang's resignation and Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye's apology."

He said, "From the scene where Kang knelt on the cold floor on a rainy day to protect the 'Sugar Boy,' and from the scene where even human rights events are used for ministerial promotion, we can see how backward the Ministry of Justice's awareness of human rights is," adding, "The Ministry of Justice showed an attitude of 'I come first' and 'superiors come first' yesterday."

The day before, Deputy Minister Kang sparked controversy when a photo surfaced showing him kneeling on the floor while an employee held an umbrella over him during a briefing on support measures for special entrants from Afghanistan.

Presidential candidate Hong Jun-pyo of the People Power Party also shared the problematic photo on the same day, stating, "This single photo is a symbolic scene that evaluates the five years of the Moon Jae-in administration," and criticized, "It was five years of treating the people like this."

The day before, party leader Lee Jun-seok sarcastically commented on Facebook, "It's strange not to feel something strange," while Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won said, "Is the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Korea imitating the Qing Dynasty emperor? It's truly absurd," and sharply added, "Deputy Minister of Justice who has lost his mind, no apology is needed. Just resign."

Kim Ki-heung, chief deputy spokesperson for former Prosecutor General and presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl, also criticized on the same day, calling it 'umbrella power abuse' and pointed out, "The dignity of the Moon Jae-in government, which said 'people first,' was properly revealed."

Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung's camp also criticized through a statement, saying, "Is this the internal culture of the Ministry of Justice that claims to value human rights?"

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