Park Gyun-taek and Yang Bu-nam mentioned as candidates for next justice minister; President Lee weighs his pick

[Financial News] The shortlist for the justice minister post, vacant for two months, has reportedly narrowed to DPK lawmakers Park Gyun-taek and Yang Bu-nam. Both are pro-Lee (pro-Lee Jae Myung) figures and former heads of high prosecutors’ offices. Their understanding of the prosecution service and experience in pursuing reform are thought to have been factors in their consideration, as a new criminal justice system has taken shape following the abolition of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea (SPO). 
According to political sources on the 25th, President Lee Jae Myung is in the final stages of deliberation over lawmakers Park and Yang as candidates for the next justice minister. The presidential office has been reconsidering its choice of successor since former nominee Kim Seung-won, who was named during the Aug. 30 cabinet reshuffle, resigned on the 19th of last month amid allegations including solicitation to secure approval for a clinical trial of a new drug. 
Both lawmakers are first-term representatives from Honam and share a background of serving in senior prosecution posts before becoming involved in President Lee’s response to his legal risks. The decision is thought to reflect a judgment that someone well versed in prosecution practice and organizational management is needed, following the abolition of the SPO and the launch of the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency early this month. 
Park graduated from Seoul National University’s law school and was in the 21st class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He served as head of the Gwangju High Prosecutors’ Office. As the first head of the Ministry of Justice’s Prosecution Bureau under the Moon Jae-in administration, he handled the practical work of prosecution reform, and he also worked at the Committee for the Promotion of Judicial System Reform under the Roh Moo-hyun administration. In 2022, he served as a special legal adviser to the DPK leader and represented President Lee in cases including Baekhyeon-dong, Seongnam FC and the Cash-for-summit scandal. 
He has said that exceptional, conditional supplementary investigative powers should be permitted as part of prosecution reform. He has also argued that charges should be dropped in cases involving President Lee. 
Yang graduated from Chonnam National University’s law school and was in the 22nd class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He rose to become head of the Busan High Prosecutors’ Office. As a prosecutor, he investigated major cases including the Daegu subway arson, allegations of illegal presidential campaign financing by the Grand National Party, and hiring corruption at Kangwon Land. He was also among those considered for prosecutor general under the Moon Jae-in administration. 
Yang was appointed head of the DPK’s Legal Affairs Committee in 2022 and oversaw the party’s response to President Lee’s legal risks for about a year and six months. He continues to serve as the party’s Legal Affairs Committee chair. 
With the field of candidates narrowing, attention is turning to whether the lengthy vacancy in the justice minister post will be filled. The post has been vacant for 60 days since former Minister Jeong Seong-ho left office on Aug. 26. The ministerial vacancy has continued for 23 days since the Public Prosecution Office was launched on the 2nd of this month. 
Some in political circles say the odds appear to be shifting toward Park, who has long been mentioned as a leading candidate. However, the question of dropping charges in cases involving President Lee, the possibility of a backlash from the opposition, and public opinion trends are cited as variables. 
The next justice minister will be tasked with ensuring the early establishment of the new criminal justice system and maintaining organizational stability during the transition. Coordination among relevant agencies following the separation of investigation and prosecution, and ensuring fairness and neutrality in justice administration, are expected to be key issues in the upcoming confirmation hearings. 

[email protected] Lim Su-bin Reporter