▲ Rep. Kim Seung-won of the ruling Democratic Party speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on Aug. 30, 2026. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- Rep. Kim Seung-won of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) was named Sunday as the nominee for new justice minister.

The two-term lawmaker, 57, is known as a staunch advocate of prosecutorial reform and played a key role in passing a recent reform bill.

Passing the national bar exam in 1996, he served as a judge at the Jeonju District Court and the Suwon District Court, among other posts.

He later joined the presidential office under the Moon Jae-in administration, working at the office of political affairs.

Since his election to the 21st National Assembly in 2020, he has served as the DP's legal affairs committee chief and often at the forefront of the party's prosecutorial reform drive.

As the DP's floor spokesperson on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, he played a key role in passing the recent revision to the Criminal Procedure Act that separates the prosecution's investigative and indictment powers.

The revision, passed late last month, also strips prosecutors of their authority to direct and supplementary investigations, leaving such powers solely with the police.

Kim is expected to spearhead efforts to ensure the new criminal justice system is firmly established.

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