Kim Seung-won nominated as justice minister, vows to stabilize new criminal justice system

Kim Seung-won, the nominee for justice minister, said Sunday he would do his utmost to ensure the country's new criminal justice system "takes root as a system trusted by the people."

Accepting the nomination, Kim said he felt "a profound sense of responsibility" at being named justice minister nominee of the people's sovereignty government.

"The Republic of Korea stands on the threshold of a fundamental transformation of a criminal justice system that has endured for 70 years," he said. "I will work to uncover the substantive truth more swiftly, protect public safety, and more robustly safeguard the rights of crime victims."

He added that he had worked as a judge and attorney to defend the rights and human rights of the people, and had served on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee with justice and the public interest as his sole guides. "I will deliver legal administration for the people and fulfill my responsibilities for the success of the Lee Jae Myung government," he said.

President Lee Jae Myung nominated Kim on Sunday to succeed Jeong Seong-ho as justice minister. Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik introduced Kim at a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae's Chunchugwan press room that morning, describing him as "a two-term lawmaker who served as a judge and as the ruling party's whip on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and who understands the intent behind the criminal and judicial system overhaul more deeply than anyone." Kang added that Kim was expected to "swiftly settle the new criminal justice system while placing the protection of victims' rights above all else."

Earlier, at a press briefing for ruling party members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly, Kim said he would "work hard to properly advance the changes to the criminal justice system and the many other matters that will arise in this once-in-70-years transformation."

Kim has led efforts to revise the Code of Criminal Procedure as a member of the Democratic Party of Korea's Criminal Procedure Law TF and as chair of the committee's first legislative review subcommittee, driving legislation to abolish prosecutors' direct investigative authority and supplementary investigative powers. If confirmed through a confirmation hearing, his immediate tasks will include implementing follow-up measures for the revised code taking effect Oct. 2, preparing for the launch of a new public prosecution office and a serious crimes investigation agency, and stabilizing the prosecutorial organization.