Justice minister-nominee at center of controversy

By Chung Min-uck

Kwon Jae-in, who was nominated as justice minister Friday, is at the center of controversy due to his current job as a senior presidential secretary.

Opposition parties were wary of his possible crossing the line between politics and justice in the two major elections to be held next year as he has worked as a presidential aide.

Last year, Kwon was implicated in a savings bank scandal, but no hard evidence supported his involvement.

Since assuming the role of senior presidential secretary in 2009, the 58-year-old was accused of trying to downplay the presidential office’s alleged involvement in the illegal surveillance of citizens.

In the scandal, the Prime Minister’s Office was suspected of monitoring businesspeople and opposition lawmakers.

Before this, Kwon had the reputation of a principled man.

Back in 2001 when he served as chairman of state liability matters at Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office, he allowed farmers who suffered from crop damage because of the nearby American airbase to receive state compensation.

The prosecutor-turned-presidential secretary took an elite course after passing the state bar exam.

Before joining the presidential office, Kwon served as head of the Seoul Prosecutors’ Office. He was born in Daegu and earned his bachelor’s degree at the Department of Law of Seoul National University.