Old and New Powers Clash Again... Transition Committee Suddenly Postpones Ministry of Justice Work Report

[Asia Economy Reporters Bomryeong Geum, Gimin Lee] The Presidential Transition Committee abruptly postponed the Ministry of Justice's scheduled briefing on the 24th. The power struggle between the old and new administrations over the relocation of the presidential office and the appointment of the Bank of Korea governor has spilled over into the transition committee's briefing.

Committee members, including Lee Yong-ho, the secretary of the Political, Judicial, and Administrative Affairs Subcommittee, held an emergency press conference at the Financial Training Institute in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, stating, "It is rude and incomprehensible for a minister who will step down after about 40 days due to a regime change to directly oppose the ministry's briefing a day before it is scheduled, regarding the campaign promises of the president-elect chosen by the people."

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye expressed opposition at a press meeting the previous day to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's judicial reform pledges, including the abolition of the Ministry of Justice minister's authority to direct investigations on specific cases, granting the prosecution budgetary authority, and expanding the prosecution's direct investigations.

Regarding Minister Park's remarks, the committee members said, "We cannot contain our anger," and added, "We judged today's Ministry of Justice briefing to be meaningless and decided to take a cooling-off period and time for reflection." President-elect Yoon also showed displeasure that day. At a casual meeting with reporters in front of the transition committee office, he stated, "In principle, it is not desirable to make personnel decisions for someone who will be with the next government for several years at the very end."

As the conflict continued endlessly, President Moon Jae-in urged President-elect Yoon to meet without preconditions. Chief of Public Communication Park Soo-hyun introduced the remarks during a briefing, saying, "President Moon spoke about the meeting between the president and the president-elect." Park said that President Moon stated, "When two people meet to exchange greetings and pleasantries, what negotiation is needed? This is not a summit. I have never heard that a negotiation or conditions are necessary when the president-elect visits the president," and requested, "Do not listen to others; please make your own judgment, president-elect."

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