Gwon Seung-ryeol

Gwon Seung-ryeol (Korean: 권승렬; 1895 – September 30, 1980) was a South Korean politician and lawyer who served as the second minister of justice for South Korea from June 6, 1949, to May 21, 1950, and the tenth minister of justice in 1960 from April 25 to August 19. He previously served as the first prosecutor general from October 31, 1948, to June 6, 1949.

Gwon Seung-ryeol
권승렬
2nd & 10th Minister of Justice
In office June 6, 1949 – May 21, 1950
President	Syngman Rhee
Preceded by	Lee In
Succeeded by	Lee Woo-ik
In office April 25, 1960 – August 19, 1960
President	Ho Chong
Preceded by	Hong Jin-ki
Succeeded by	Jo Jae-chun [ko]
1st Prosecutor General of South Korea
In office October 31, 1948 – June 6, 1949
President	Syngman Rhee
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Kim Ik-jin [ko]
Personal details
Born	1895 (1895) Andong, Joseon
Died	September 30, 1980(1980-09-30) (aged 84–85) Yeouido-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Korean name
Hangul	권승렬
Hanja	權承烈
RR	Gwon Seungryeol
MR	Kwŏn Sŭngnyŏl

Biography

Gwon was born in 1895 during the 32nd year of King Gojong's reign in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Joseon. In 1908, he studied Japanese at the Hanseong Foreign Language School [ko], graduating in 1911. In 1916, he began working for the Government-General of Korea as an apprentice officer in Yeonbaek County. Gwon left his government post in 1920 and began studying law at the Chuo University in Tokyo, Japan in 1922. He graduated in 1926 at the top of his class.^[1]

Gwon returned to Korea in 1926 and practiced law in Seoul. He provided free legal representation to Korean independence activists; his clients included those involved in the Gando Communist Party Incident [ko] and Gwangju Student Independence Movement. He also represented figures such as Ahn Chai-hong, Baek Gwan-su [ko], Lyuh Woon-hyung, and Ahn Chang Ho. Following Korea's liberation from Japan in 1945, Gwon was a founding member of the Democratic Party of Korea. He also served as a deputy director for the Judicial Officers Training Institute and a director for the Legislation Bureau of the interim government's Judicial Department before becoming deputy director of the Judicial Department in 1948.^[1]

On October 31, 1948, Gwon was appointed as the first prosecutor general of South Korea.^[2] In this position, he also served as the deputy minister of justice and director of the Special Prosecutor's Office for Anti-National Activities.^[1] On June 6, 1949, President Syngman Rhee appointed Gwon as the minister of justice.^[3][4] Gwon's first term as minister of justice ended on May 21, 1950, after being dismissed by President Rhee.^[3][5] Gwon also served as minister of justice in 1960 from April 25 to August 19.^[3]

Gwon died on September 30, 1980, at his home in Yeouido-dong, Seoul.^[6]