Justice Party "Regrets Yoon's Nomination of Han Dong-hoon as Minister of Justice... Seems to Have Chosen a Warrior to Fight the Democratic Party"

by Na Juseok

Published 13 Apr.2022 15:54(KST)

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is announcing the second round of Cabinet member candidates and the appointment of the Chief of the Presidential Secretariat on the 13th at the briefing room of the Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. On the right is Han Dong-hoon, appointed as Minister of Justice and Deputy Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] On the 13th, the Justice Party expressed 'regret' over President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's nomination of Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon as the next Minister of Justice. The Justice Party stated, "The nomination of the Minister of Justice candidate seems to show the Prosecutor General preparing for an all-out confrontation with the Democratic Party rather than taking presidential responsibility, which is very regrettable as a presidential appointment."

Justice Party spokesperson Jang Tae-soo said in a statement, "The person elected by the citizens through the presidential election is not the Prosecutor General but the President," adding, "The President represents all citizens of the Republic of Korea, not a candidate representing a faction." He continued, "Today's nomination of the Minister of Justice candidate looks as if the President-elect made a Prosecutor General appointment," and questioned, "Is it not a choice of a warrior to fight against the Democratic Party's separation of prosecution investigation powers?"

Spokesperson Jang said, "Having different thoughts and attitudes is the beginning of democracy," and added, "It is the President's responsibility to find the greatest common divisor of different thoughts and attitudes and establish it as the value of the community."

He stated, "The Justice Party will thoroughly verify the nominated candidates, including the Minister of Education candidate who was accused by the Ministry of Education of breach of trust in the course of duty and faced opposition from university members as an uncommunicative Prosecutor General, to ensure that the first button of the President's duties is not fastened incorrectly."