Agriculture Minister Resigns Over Court Decision to Stop Saemangum Project

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Kim Young-jin tendered his resignation on July 16th in a show of protest against the Seoul District Court`s decision not to proceed with the Saemangum land reclamation project.

At an emergency press conference in his office in the Kwachon Government Complex in Kwachon, Minister Kim stated: “As a show of strong protest against the decision, I have decided to tender my resignation. Today, my resignation was tendered to Prime Minister Goh Gun.”

In a prepared statement distributed by him, Kim said, “In the previous court decision on January 30th, the Constitutional Court of Korea turned the case down. I think it is ridiculous for the Seoul District Court to have made such a decision regarding the same case. Thus, I have decided to show my extreme displeasure against the latest court decision.”

Minister Kim called the court`s decision a judicial fallacy and criticized the government for its lack of consistency in policy direction regarding national projects, adding, “Under the current circumstances where the nation`s underpinnings are being weakened by social chaos, the Justice Ministry is simply adding to the disorder.”

He added, “There are many debatable points in the court`s ruling that the Saemangum project would be unfeasible given the possibility of expanded water pollution around the area, as well as in the environmental groups` victory in the original lawsuit.”

Kim said he hoped his resignation would prompt the justice system make a proper decision later in the original case so that all the people in the nation could accept it.

President Roh Moo-hyun held a meeting with his aides to discuss whether or not to accept Minister Kim`s resignation. An official from the Presidential Secretariat said, “Minister Kim`s resignation was an act of protest against the Justice Ministry, and he will not return to his post even though his resignation has not been accepted. So, effectively, it will be ultimately be received.”

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry held an emergency meeting hosted by Vice Minister Kim Jung-ho following Minister Kim`s resignation to work out stronger measures against the court`s decision.

Ki-Jeong Ko Jeong-Hun Kim koh@donga.com jnghn@donga.com