As Early As Today, Appointment of New Justice Chief and Prosecutor General

As for the incident involving beating to death of a suspect at the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office, President Kim Dae-jung accepted resignations tendered by Justice Minister Kim Jung-kil and Prosecutor General Lee Myung-jae on November 5. As early as November 6, the President is expected to appoint new justice minister and chief prosecutor replacing Mr. Kim and Mr. Lee.

Presiding over a cabinet meeting, President Kim said, "In a recent incident, the prosecution, which has to protect the law and human rights, beat a suspect to death. As you might do, I was shocked by the incident. It is really a deplorable thing."

He continued, "This could happen only under dictatorship. How could this incident take place in a democracy? The truth should be disclosed and those responsible should be called to account."

As for Mr. Kim and Mr. Lee’s successors, President Kim was expected to appoint politically neutral people considering fair management of the presidential election was most important.

A senior official with the Office of the President Cheong Wa Dae stressed, "The President is determined to hold the election in a fair manner. Therefore, the selection of new justice chief and prosecutor general will be made within this course."

Among candidates for prosecutor general’s post are Han Bu-hwan, chief of the Legal Research & Training Institute, Lee Jong-chan, chief of the Seoul High Public Prosecutors’ Office, Kim Gak-yeong, Vice Minister of Justice, Kim Gyeong-han, former chief of the Seoul High Public Prosecutors’ Office and Kim Su-jang, former chief of the Seoul District Public Prosecutors’ Office.

As for new justice minister’s post, the former Vice Minister of Justice Cho Seong-uk, Kim Jin-sae, former chief of the Daejeon High Public Prosecutors’ Office, and former Prosecutor General Park Sun-yong are being considered.

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