Justice Minister Kim Tae Jong Finally Dismissed

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Justice Minister Kim Tae Jong Finally Dismissed

President Kim Dae Jung finally dismissed Justice Minister Kim Tae Jong on June 8.
The former head of the Kwangju High Prosecutors' Office, Kim Jong Gil, replaces him.
The decision was taken after Jin Hyong Ku, chief of the Public Security Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, made a controversial remark concerning the strike of the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation's trade union last November. Naturally Jin was unseated also.
Jin reportedly told reporters over dinner with liquor on the evening of June 7 that the walkout at the Mint was instigated by the prosecution. He said, under the influence of liquor, that they chose the Corporation's strike as an example of heavy-handed supression and they succeeded in showing what they intended.
Angered by Jin's thoughtless remark, President Kim fired Kim Tae Jong charging him with mismanagement over his subordinate.
However, this can be understood as only a simple cause of the dismissal because President Kim was under fire for appointing Kim Tae Jong as Justice Minister in the recent cabinet reshuffle.
Civic, social and labor organizations have been stepping up their efforts to unseat Justice Minister Kim Tae Jong, pinpointing that his wife was involved in the so-called 'Clothes Scandal.'
But the prosecution last week cleared his wife of any wrongdoing in connection with the dress graft scandal after a five-day investigation, sparking criticism that President Kim was trying to cover up dirty dealings.
The press also censured President Kim on the charge that he ignores the voice of the people, and urged the dismissal of the justice minister.
Shang-bok Shim : simsb@joongang.co.kr
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