By Jeon Han and Yoon Sojung
May 21, 2017 | Cheong Wa Dae

Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Soo-hyun announced on May 21 at the Chunchugwan press center at Cheong Wa Dae that, “President Moon Jae-in made the appointment of the vice minister of justice and the deputy prosecutor general of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office as of May 22, Monday.” 
 
"Lee Keum-ro, chief of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, was appointed the vice minister of justice and Bong Wook, who served as the head of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, was promoted to the deputy prosecutor general of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office," said Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson.

Spokesperson Park said, “The appointment of the vice justice minister and the deputy prosecutor general of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office were made earlier than the scheduled appointment of vice ministers at other ministries because both the vice justice minister and deputy prosecutor general expressed their will to resign.”

“The appointment of the two posts was made in consideration of not only their work capability, overall reputation from both in and outside their organizations but also for the stability of the prosecutors’ offices,” Park said.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park also announced the appointment of senior secretary for legal affairs that day.

“Kim Hyeong-yeon, who served as a head judge at the Incheon District Court, has been appointed as the new senior secretary for legal affairs for Cheong Wa Dae,” he said.

“Kim has been considered one of the leading judges in a younger group at the court who never avoids raising his voice concerning criticisms when it comes to issues that are against his understanding of the law,” said the spokesperson.

“He has an amicable and gentle character and has a firm will to reform the judicial system, in which he pushes for the division of power between the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the independent power of Justices of the Supreme Court,” Park said as he explained the background of the appointment.

Meanwhile, the Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson told the press about President Moon Jae-in’s first vacation.

“President Moon Jae-in went to his private home in Yangsan today to shape up future plans for properly managing state affairs,” said the spokesperson.

“President Moon will take a day off tomorrow. He will attend the eighth commemorative ceremony for the passing of the former President Roh Moo-hyun, which will take place in Bongha Maeul Village in Gimhae on May 23, before coming back to Cheong Wa Dae,” he said.

hanjeon@korea.kr