Justice Minister Submits Resignation; Cheong Wa Dae Asks Him to Stay Until Successor is Appointed

[Anchor]

Jeong Sungho, the inaugural Minister of Justice under the Lee Jae-myung administration, officially submitted his resignation today (the 18th). By formalizing his intention to step down—which he had hinted at multiple times previously—Cheong Wa Dae has requested that he continue to carry out his ministerial duties until follow-up personnel appointments are concluded.

Here is a report by reporter Shin Yong-il.

[Reporter]

Minister of Justice Jeong Sungho submitted his resignation to Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Personnel Management this afternoon.

Minister Jeong stated that he has formalized his resignation now that major prosecution reform legislation has been completed, and he expects his resignation to be promptly accepted.

[Jeong Sungho / Minister of Justice: "Isn't there more work for me to do by going to the National Assembly to swiftly address other pending issues, such as party unity or minor problems that emerged during the amendment process of the Criminal Procedure Act?"]

Appointed as the first Minister of Justice of the current administration as a close confidant of President Lee Jae-myung, Minister Jeong has led prosecution reforms over the past year or so, including the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office and the establishment of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Office.

However, toward the final stages of the Criminal Procedure Act amendments, he expressed opposition to the total abolition of supplementary investigation powers led by the Democratic Party.

He also voiced concern, remarking that it was the first time a bill had been amended at the "speed of light," and stated on social media that if side effects arise, they must be fixed quickly.

Minister Jeong had previously expressed his intention to resign informally on several occasions, and Cheong Wa Dae had essentially urged him to stay. It appears he took formal steps to step down after the Criminal Procedure Act amendment passed the plenary session of the National Assembly and the Democratic Party's national convention concluded.

Cheong Wa Dae stated today, "Minister Jeong has faithfully fulfilled his assigned role in response to public demand," adding, "We have asked him to continue performing his duties as minister until follow-up personnel measures are taken."

[Kang Yu-jung / Senior Spokesperson for Cheong Wa Dae: "We have requested that he fulfill his duties until measures such as follow-up personnel appointments are implemented."]

Once the President accepts Minister Jeong's resignation, Vice Minister Lee Jin-soo will immediately assume the role of acting minister.

(Video reporting: Yang Hyun-chul, Video editing: Kim Jun-hee)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.