[Anchor]

Political circles are in a stir following reports that Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho recently expressed his intention to resign. Reactions have been divided, with the pan-ruling camp calling it "inappropriate" and the opposition labeling it a "signal flare for a lame duck." Minister Chung stated, "I have conveyed my intent to step down to the Blue House from a long time ago."

Here is a report by reporter Jeong Yunsik.

[Reporter]

At the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, pan-ruling party lawmakers have been reviewing the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which centers on the complete abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigative powers.

Minister of Justice Chung Sung-ho expressed concerns over the side effects of a complete abolition, leading to a war of words with pan-ruling party lawmakers.

[Park Eun-jung / Rebuilding Korea Party Lawmaker (on the 15th): Prosecutors' investigations became an issue so we are trying to reform, and we must not solve the problems of police investigations by giving investigative powers back to prosecutors...]

[Chung Sung-ho / Minister of Justice: Please take a close look at how the current investigative structure operates. I am making various arguments in the process to ensure that victims do not suffer unfairness.]

However, as the Democratic Party adopted the complete abolition policy as its official party platform yesterday (the 24th), Minister Chung stated today that while he did not speak directly to the president, he had conveyed his intent to resign through Blue House aides from a long time ago.

Political circles interpreted this as a matter of taking responsibility for his arguments not being accepted thus far, such as the necessity of restoring the full-case referral system even if supplementary investigative powers are abolished.

The Democratic Party released a commentary today making no mention of Minister Chung, stating that the Criminal Procedure Act amendment includes various devices to expand victims' rights. However, within the party, reactions emerged stating, "We understand his good intentions, but his resignation should be rejected." Meanwhile, the Rebuilding Korea Party lashed out, saying, "It looks like the minister is saying he cannot take it anymore and is providing an excuse for dereliction of duty originating from the prosecution."

On the other hand, the People Power Party claimed that the Democratic Party's adoption of the abolition of supplementary investigative powers as a party platform revealed it to be a "defeat for the government and a complete victory for the ruling party's hardliners," calling it a signal flare for a lame duck administration under Lee Jae-myung.

Minister Chung is reportedly not turning in a formal letter of resignation, and a key Blue House official expressed the view that Minister Chung will responsibly wrap up his work well.

(Video coverage: Lee Seung-hwan | Video editing: Cho Mu-hwan)