President nominates arms procurement chief as justice minister

President Lee Jae Myung nominated Defense Acquisition Program Administration chief Lee Yong-cheol as justice minister, Cheong Wa Dae said, Friday, after the post has remained vacant for more than two months. Lee, who heads Korea’s arms procurement agency, is a lawyer formerly affiliated with Lawyers for a Democratic Society, known as Minbyun, and has worked to protect human rights and promote democratic values, the presidential office said. He served as a presidential secretary for civil affairs and legal affairs during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, helping lead reforms of anti-corruption systems. Cheong Wa Dae cited Lee's legal background as well as his administrative experience in areas including structural reform as key qualifications for the justice minister post. “We expect him to swiftly establish the new criminal justice system and deliver fair justice administration so that no one is left behind or suffers injustice,” the office said. The president also nominated Seoul Regional Tax Office chief Ahn Duk-su as National Tax Service commissioner. The post has remained vacant s