At Farewell Ceremony, Seongjae Park Says "Indiscriminate Use of Authority in the Name of Majority Is Tyranny and Arbitrariness"

On June 5, Minister of Justice Seongjae Park, whose resignation has been accepted, stated, "If institutional authority is exercised indiscriminately under the pretext of the will of the majority, without consultation or deliberation, it constitutes the tyranny and arbitrariness of the majority and directly contradicts the meaning of democracy."

Minister of Justice Seongjae Park Leaving Ministry of Justice. Yonhap News

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At the farewell ceremony held at the Government Complex Gwacheon at 10:00 a.m. that day, Minister Park said, "The law should not be a weapon for the powerful majority to wield power, but rather a means to bring together members of society with diverse opinions into a forum for discussion, persuasion, and deliberation."

Minister Park further stated, "We must become a society where people participate in dialogue based on respect, tolerance, and consideration, exercise authority rationally and with restraint, and listen to different voices." He added, "I hope that a genuine democracy will take root, one in which the spirit of harmony and coexistence prevails over hatred and cynicism."

He continued, "Various changes are expected in the Ministry of Justice's operations in line with the new government's policy direction. However, regardless of changes in government, urgent tasks such as the prompt and fair exercise of prosecutorial authority, improvement of the precise criminal justice system, response to and prevention of juvenile and drug-related crimes, resolving overcrowding in correctional facilities, establishing order among foreign residents, and the integration of immigrant communities must be addressed unwaveringly."

Minister Park also said, "Since the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and the police, the public has experienced significant inconvenience due to delays in investigations and trials." He emphasized, "It is urgent to address issues such as the passing of cases between investigative agencies, unclear responsibility, and inadequate or delayed investigations." In addition, he stated, "Now is the time for dedicated investigative organizations for drug-related crimes, such as the Government Joint Investigation Headquarters for Drug Crimes," and stressed, "We must pool national capabilities to respond professionally."

Minister Park was impeached by the National Assembly and suspended from duty in connection with the 12·3 Martial Law Incident, but returned to office in April after the Constitutional Court's dismissal of the case. However, he stepped down just two months later. All cabinet members, including Minister Park, offered their resignations to President Jaemyung Lee the previous day, but President Lee accepted only Minister Park's resignation.

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