Park Beom-kye

South Korean politician

박범계Minister of JusticeIn office
28 January 2021 – 9 May 2022PresidentMoon Jae-inPrime MinisterChung Sye-kyun
Kim Boo-kyumPreceded byChoo Mi-aeSucceeded byLee No-gong (acting)
Han Dong-hoonMember of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 May 2012Preceded byLee Jae-seonConstituencyDaejeon Seo District B Personal detailsBorn (1963-04-27) 27 April 1963 (age 61)
Yeongdong County, South KoreaPolitical partyDemocraticAlma materYonsei University (LLB)
Hanbat National UniversitySignature

Park Beom-kye (Korean: 박범계; Hanja: 朴範界; born 27 April 1963) is a South Korean politician who served as Minister of Justice under President Moon Jae-in from 2021 to 2022 and a three-term parliamentarian representing Daejeon from 2012.[1]

After passing the bar exam and completing subsequent training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, Park began his career as a judge at Seoul Central District Court. In 1998 he was transferred to Jeonju District Court and in 2001 to Daejeon District Court.[2]

In October 2002, Park ended his career at the court to join the presidential campaign of Roh Moo-hyun, who was expected to lose the election. After Roh's victory in the 2002 South Korean presidential election, Park continued to work for Roh as a member of his transition team and as a secretary at the Office of the President.[3]

After failing to gain his party's nomination for the general election in 2004 or bi-election in 2007, Park finally became the party's candidate in the 2008 election. In 2012 he ran again for the same constituency and has represented Daejeon in the National Assembly since.

After operation "Miracle" in late August 2021 successfully evacuated about 400 people from Afghanistan who worked with the Korean embassy, KOICA and Korean military missions, Park said his ministry would submit an amendment to Immigration Act to parliament so that "people who have made special contributions to Korea or who have expanded its common good" can file for a long-term F2 visa.[4][5][6]

Education

Park holds two bachelor's degrees - one in law from Yonsei University[7] and the other in economics from Hanbat National University.[2]

Electoral history

Election Year District Party Affiliation Votes Percentage of votes Results
18th National Assembly General Election 2008 Daejeon Seo District B Democratic Party 22,448 26.41% Lost
19th National Assembly General Election 2012 Daejeon Seo District B Democratic United Party 46,908 43.63% Won
20th National Assembly General Election 2016 Daejeon Seo District B Democratic Party 56,819 49.53% Won
21st National Assembly General Election 2020 Daejeon Seo District B Democratic Party 70,708 57.50% Won

References

  1. ^ "South Korea's Moon Replaces Justice Minister as Elections Near". Bloomberg.com. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b "박범계, 한정애, 황기철은 누구?". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  3. ^ 이, 해아 (30 December 2020). "(profile) Former judge committed to prosecution reform tapped as justice minister". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  4. ^ "'Operation Miracle' complete with 390 Afghan arrivals". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  5. ^ "In South Korea, Afghan evacuees find hope in their new 'special merit' status". Reuters. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  6. ^ "박범계 "법 개정으로 아프간인들 F-2 비자 발급…정착 지원"". NewsPim (in Korean). 26 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Moon names new justice minister, mulls Blue House reshuffle". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 23 January 2021.