Yoon appoints new justice minister

New Justice Minister Park Sung-jae gives a speech at his inauguration ceremony at the Gwacheon government complex in Gyeonggi on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk Yeol appointed Park Sung-jae, a lawyer and former head of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, as his new justice minister on Tuesday, the presidential office said.

The post has been vacant since Han Dong-hoon, Yoon's first justice minister, stepped down in December to helm the People Power Party (PPP) interim leadership committee ahead of the general elections in April.

Park's appointment came after the National Assembly adopted a parliamentary report following his confirmation hearing.

Park notably was Yoon's senior colleague in the prosecution.

A native of North Gyeongsang, Park graduated from Korea University with a bachelor's degree in law and passed the national bar exam in 1985.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]