By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Civil servants should have a respectful fear of people, and not ignore and hide things from them, outgoing Justice Minister Kim Sung-ho said at his retirement ceremony Monday.
Kim, who is widely known to speak his mind, took office on Aug. 30, 2006. During his one-year-term, he reportedly had several conflicts with President Roh Moo-hyun who appointed him.
He held onto his corporate friendly image and called for public servants to remain neutral at all times. Kim said, ``the fact that corporations largely contributed to the national economy should not be underestimated.’’ He also advised the government to make a corporate-friendly environment to create more jobs.
When Roh filed a constitutional petition in June to protest the Election Law clauses on the obligation of civil servants to remain neutral during elections, Kim raised an objection. Some political experts said that this difference in opinion may have resulted in his resignation.
His ministry staff set up a Web site www.ihappyworld.net in which his interviews, media coverage and a caricature of him as a Napoleon are posted.
Meanwhile, there have been rumors that Kim will work for Lee Myung-bak, the presidential nominee of the main opposition Grand National Party. Kim and Lee are both graduates from Korea University. During the prosecution’s investigation of Lee over scandals concerning alleged illegal purchases of real estate in Dogok-dong in Seoul, Kim said it was not right for the judiciary to be deeply involved in a political election.
Some political experts said that Lee’s camp is eager to scout Kim as he could influence several ongoing investigations by the National Intelligence Service, the prosecution and the National Tax Service.
However, Kim kept silent about his future plans at the ceremony.