Democratic Party respects Kim Seung-won's resignation, vows to pursue 'fabricated investigation' claims

Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers said Saturday they respect Kim Seung-won's decision to withdraw his nomination as minister of justice, while vowing to press ahead with efforts to expose what they called a "fabricated and targeted investigation" surrounding him.

Seo Young-gyo, a Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, wrote on Facebook that Kim had stepped down after careful deliberation "for the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration and the stability of state affairs." "It is regrettable, but I respect that decision," she said.

Seo added that "the truth about the fabricated and targeted investigation against nominee Kim will come to light." She said efforts to reform the prosecution — aimed at uncovering the truth behind what she described as fabricated investigations and indictments by "Yoon Suk Yeol's political prosecutors" — would continue, and that the party would redouble its focus on legislation to improve livelihoods and advance reform.

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won also weighed in on Kim's resignation, calling his choice to step down voluntarily "a model of self-sacrifice" made to ease the burden on President Lee Jae Myung.

Park urged Kim to "come back to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee" and work together to "reveal Rep. Han Dong-hoon's crimes before the public."

Kim Eui-gyeom, a Democratic Party lawmaker who leads his party's side on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said Kim Seung-won had announced his resignation "for the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration and the stability of state affairs" and that the party respected the nominee's decision.

Kim Eui-gyeom said he would pursue the truth about the allegations surrounding Kim Seung-won — including the alleged illegal leak of investigative records and what he called a targeted investigation — "to the very end" in his role on the committee. "Reform must no longer be stalled in the political prosecutors' filing cabinet," he said, adding that he would "keep walking the path of stabilizing people's livelihoods with eyes fixed solely on the public."

Democratic Party lawmaker Song Young-gil described Kim Seung-won's resignation as "a decision that accepts the will of the people," but said he felt pained reading Kim's resignation statement.

Song went on to say that independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon had spread false information and obtained materials illegally in the course of raising allegations against Kim Seung-won.

"The cases filed — complaints and criminal accusations — over the spread of false information through this illegal leak of materials, defamation and other offenses must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted," Song said.