Jeong Seong-ho, the Minister of Justice, has officially submitted his resignation, raising concerns over key issues surrounding prosecutorial reform, including the abolition of direct investigative powers for prosecutors.
According to legal sources on August 18, Jeong submitted his resignation to the Blue House and the Ministry of Personnel Management in the afternoon.
In his resignation letter, he cited health reasons, including sleep disorders, and stated that "major legislation related to prosecutorial reform has been completed." He also expressed the belief that the newly restructured criminal justice system should be finalized under new leadership.
However, a Blue House official stated, "We ask for your understanding that we cannot confirm matters related to personnel changes," refraining from providing specific details.
Previously, Jeong had hinted at the possibility of resigning on several occasions in public settings. During a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting on July 27, when asked by lawmakers about his intention to resign, he responded, "New wine should be put in new bottles," indicating his willingness to step down.
Despite this, the Blue House clarified that Jeong's expression of resignation was not formal. Additionally, it was reported that during a closed Cabinet meeting on August 4, President Lee Jae-myung advised Jeong to "hang in there," suggesting that the Blue House was indirectly discouraging his resignation.
This situation arises as a significant organizational restructuring is set to occur in October, with the abolition of the prosecution office and the establishment of the Public Prosecution Service and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. The Blue House likely views Jeong's role as essential for ensuring the successful implementation of these reforms.
However, with Jeong's resignation now submitted, significant repercussions are anticipated for the follow-up measures related to prosecutorial reform and the timeline for restructuring the criminal justice system.
The resignation of a Cabinet member must go through a recommendation process by the Ministry of Personnel Management before receiving final approval from the President. Once the President accepts the resignation, the Ministry of Justice will transition to an acting leadership under Vice Minister Lee Jin-soo.
As discussions about the next Minister of Justice continue, names such as Democratic Party lawmakers Park Kyun-taek and Lee Geon-tae, who represented President Lee in legal matters, are being mentioned as potential candidates.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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