Justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won reports 685 million won in assets as Lee submits confirmation request

Former lawmaker Kim Seung-won reported 685.09 million won in assets as President Lee Jae-myung nominated him to lead South Korea’s Justice Ministry.

The confirmation request submitted to the National Assembly listed assets held by Kim, his wife, his father and three children. Kim reported 211.81 million won, including a 30 million-won lease deposit for an office in Jangan-gu, Suwon, and 114.51 million won in bank deposits.

His wife reported 515.59 million won, including a 357 million-won apartment lease deposit, a 386.58 million-won apartment subscription right in the same area and 191.34 million won in deposits. Kim’s father reported net assets of minus 131.45 million won because of substantial debt. The three children held about 89.13 million won in deposits combined.

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Kim Seung-won led legislation to reform the criminal justice system, centered on separating investigations and indictments, while serving as secretary of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

The filing also disclosed personal and military records. Kim left the Suwon District Court in February 2008 after serving as a judge. In July that year, the court fined him 700,000 won for drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act. Kim completed military service in 2002 as an Army first lieutenant and legal officer, while his eldest son received wartime labor-service status, effectively exempting him from active military service, because of illness.

Lee said Kim had the expertise and political ability to pursue prosecution reform. The president cited Kim’s work as secretary of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee and his leadership in legislation separating investigations from indictments. Lee called him suitable to complete the transition of the criminal justice system and strengthen the Justice Ministry’s human-rights protections and support for crime victims.

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He is the right person to stably complete the transition of the criminal justice system and further strengthen the Justice Ministry’s fundamental functions of protecting human rights and supporting crime victims.