Kim Seung-won, nominee for justice minister, arrives at his confirmation hearing preparation office at Jeokseon Hyundai Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Monday. [Yonhap]
Kim Seung-won, nominee for justice minister, arrives at his confirmation hearing preparation office at Jeokseon Hyundai Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Monday. [Yonhap]

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon said Monday that no justice minister in South Korean history since the 1919 provisional government has had a criminal record — a streak he warned would end if Kim Seung-won, the justice minister nominee, is confirmed.

Han made the remarks on his Facebook page, saying "if drunk-driving convict Kim is appointed justice minister, that record will be broken."

Kim served as a judge at Suwon District Court from February 2006 to February 2008 before leaving the bench to practice law. In July 2008, while working as a lawyer, he was convicted of drunk driving by Suwon District Court and fined 700,000 won ($517).

Kim has previously apologized for the incident, saying drunk driving "cannot be excused under any circumstances" and that he "should have conducted himself more strictly as a lawyer at the time."

Arriving at his confirmation hearing preparation office at Jeokseon Hyundai Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Monday morning, Kim was asked whether the drunk-driving conviction had been disclosed to Cheong Wa Dae. He said fines below 1 million won are not required to be listed, adding, "There was a fine of 700,000 won — please take that into account."


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com