Unqualified to uphold law
Justice minister nominee, vice minister hit for misbehavior
Monday's confirmation hearing for Justice Minister nominee Park Beom-kye failed to clear up suspicions against him but rather confirmed that the three-term lawmaker had many reasons to be disqualified. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) defended him, stating, "There were no serious problems." Yet it's doubtful that he is qualified to lead the Ministry of Justice, given the extent of unresolved suspicions surrounding him.
Above all things, the nominee was indicted a year ago on charges of assaulting opposition party officials during a scuffle in April 2019 when opposition lawmakers occupied parliamentary committee meeting rooms to physically stop the DPK from fast-tracking electoral and prosecutorial reform bills. If named officially, Park will become the first justice minister ever to stand trial as a defendant.