Yoon's Pledge Divides the Same Boat... 'Park Beom-gye - Kim Oh-soo' Now Strangers

'Abolition of Investigation Command Rights' Park and Kim Clash Head-On... One Team Broken After Regime Change
Park: "I'm the one leaving, but please take measures to allow the work report"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, and Kim Oh-soo, Prosecutor General, who were once in the same boat under the Moon Jae-in administration, are now seeking separate paths.

On the 25th, insiders and outsiders in the legal community analyzed that the relationship between the two, who were practically partners, has deteriorated as Minister Park and Prosecutor General Kim clashed head-on over President-elect Yoon Seok-youl's prosecution-related pledges.

The day before, the Presidential Transition Committee (Transition Committee) rejected the Ministry of Justice's work report, causing Minister Park to lose face, while Prosecutor General Kim relatively upheld his position by accepting most of President-elect Yoon's pledges. The consensus is that the two have now crossed a point of no return.

Prosecutor General Kim, who worked closely as a deputy minister during former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's tenure and had conflicts with then-Prosecutor General Yoon, has been strengthening internal unity by dismissing early resignation rumors that surfaced after the presidential election.

In this situation, when Minister Park expressed opposition to the abolition of the investigative directive authority, Prosecutor General Kim responded by stating that it should be abolished to ensure the independence of investigations and political neutrality. This eventually led to a situation where the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution failed to reach an agreement and submitted separate reports to the Transition Committee.

Moreover, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office reported during the Transition Committee briefing that the "Regulations on the Prohibition of Disclosure of Criminal Cases" need partial revision. This regulation, created in October 2019 when investigations into former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's family intensified, was criticized as a "self-regulation" because it prohibited Cho from disclosing investigation details to the media.

Within the prosecution, there is some surprise as Prosecutor General Kim took a stance completely opposite to expectations that he would merely consider the Ministry of Justice's opinion. Throughout his term, Kim had aligned with Minister Park and supported the current government's prosecution reforms, but his position has now changed 180 degrees.

Some speculate that Prosecutor General Kim is trying to erase his pro-government image to preserve his term, but the prevailing analysis is that he shifted his stance because, with the change of administration, he cannot help but be cautious of the prosecution members' sentiments.

Deputy Prosecutor A said, "It is difficult to grasp Prosecutor General Kim's intentions, but since the president-elect first mentioned abolishing the investigative directive authority, he probably could not oppose matters related to the prosecution's rights and interests."

The problem is that if the Transition Committee and Minister Park continue to clash, only Prosecutor General Kim and Ministry of Justice officials caught in the middle may find themselves in a difficult position. As Prosecutor General Kim distances himself from Minister Park, it seems unlikely that Minister Park, cornered, will agree to the prosecution's expansion of authority, which contradicts the current government's stance. There is also speculation that Minister Park may decide on his position to avoid having to watch his own back.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Minister Park told reporters on his way to work, "I am someone who will leave, but I hope the Ministry of Justice's work report can be made next week," adding, "It's not just about the investigative directive or adjustment of investigative authority; there are many good contents that will help the new government."

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