Park names new top prosecutor

President Park Geun-hye named Kim Soo-nam, vice chief of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, as the next prosecutor general Friday, the presidential office said. 

Kim, 56, was nominated to replace current prosecutor general Kim Jin-tae, whose term is expected to end on Dec. 1. But he must go through a National Assembly hearing before he can take over the post. 

“Kim has gained insight and experience in the prosecution by leading probes into large-scale corruption cases,” Cheong Wae Dae spokesperson Jeong Yeon-guk said of the reason for Kim’s appointment in a news briefing. 

“As Kim has a firm belief in the rule of law and constitutionalism, we believe he is the right person to correct our society’s unproductive, deeply-rooted evils,” he added. 

Kim, a graduate of Seoul National University’s law school, has held various positions in the prosecution and the Justice Ministry after he passed the bar exam in 1984 and began his career as a judge in 1987. He moved to Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in 1990.

He is known for leading the investigation into former left-wing lawmaker Lee Seok-ki in 2013, when prosecutors arrested him for plotting an armed revolt to overthrow the Seoul government in case of the outbreak of the inter-Korean war. 

The politically-sensitive probe, however, created a stir, with pro-democracy activists accusing the prosecution of leaning towards the conservative Park administration.

Some civic organizations expressed their objection to the appointment, citing his background. They argued that Kim had “abused” the prosecutorial authority to silence the criticism of the government.

“The top prosecutor’s position should go to someone who is willing to be independent from the politics, so Kim is not the right person for the post,” the lawyers’ group Lawyers for a Democratic Society said in a press release. 

Kim was born in the so-called “TK” region, referring to Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, a stronghold of President Park. He went to the same high school in Daegu as Kang Shin-myeong, the head of the National Police Agency.

“I feel a great responsibility to be nominated as prosecutor general at a time when the public has great interest in and expectations of the prosecution. I will calmly and humbly prepare for the confirmation hearing,” Kim said after his appointment. 

The confirmation hearing is scheduled sometime in the middle of next month, government officials said. 

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)