DPK Lawmaker Urges Resigned Justice Minister Chung Seong-ho to Sacrifice for President

Voices are emerging continuously from within the ruling bloc urging Minister of Justice Chung Seong-ho, who has reportedly recently expressed his intention to resign, to finish wrapping up prosecution reform.

During an appearance on SBS Radio's Political Show hosted by Kim Tae-hyun today (the 27th), Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ji-won pointed out to Minister Chung, "It is not right for a minister to try to evade the president's prosecution reform. It is an evasion of responsibility."

Lawmaker Park urged, "If the national and zeitgeist spirit demands the separation of investigation and indictment, [Minister Chung] must carry it through."

He then urged, "Isn't Minister Chung Seong-ho someone closer to the president than anyone else?" adding, "He must make a sacrifice himself for the president."

Lawmaker Park also asked Minister Chung during a plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee earlier in the day whether he intended to express his intention to resign.

In response, Minister Chung stated, "I consider it inappropriate for the issue of the Minister of Justice's resignation to draw interest during such a period," but added, "My health condition is currently very poor. I have been suffering from severe sleep disorders for several months. Considering those aspects, I had been discussing the matter extensively with people around the president."

Supreme Council candidate Lee Seong-윤 of the Democratic Party also appeared on MBC Radio's Attention Focus with Kim Jong-bae earlier in the day and urged, "At such a critical time, rather than expressing an intention to resign, you must prepare so that the prosecution organization along with the Investigation Office for Serious Crimes and the Prosecution Service can be properly launched on schedule."

Mentioning reports that Minister Chung had made remarks to the effect that he has "no further work or will to do," Lawmaker Lee said, "I was truly surprised. It is something former prosecutors general frequently say," adding, "Since the president has entrusted the issue of abolishing supplementary investigation powers to the National Assembly, [the minister] just needs to execute according to the National Assembly's decision."

Lawmaker Kim Nam-hee appeared on the same radio broadcast as Lawmaker Lee and said, "Minister Chung has already repeatedly stated several times that he would return to the National Assembly. There are also health issues," but added, "However, since various laws are set to take effect in October, I think it would be better for him to wrap things up himself."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.