Jeong Seong-ho, the Minister of Justice, who has expressed concerns over key issues surrounding prosecutorial reform, has officially submitted his resignation.
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, Jeong cited health reasons, including sleep disorders, and stated that "the major legislation related to prosecutorial reform has been completed." He also expressed his belief that the newly restructured criminal justice system should be completed under new leadership.
However, a Blue House official stated, "We ask for your understanding that we cannot confirm matters related to personnel," refraining from commenting on specific issues.
Previously, Jeong had hinted at the possibility of resigning multiple times 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 had drawn a line, stating 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 take place 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 smooth implementation of these reforms.
However, with Jeong's resignation now submitted, significant delays are expected in the follow-up measures for 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 being finalized by the President. Once the President accepts the resignation, the Ministry of Justice will transition to an acting leadership under Vice Minister Lee Jin-soo.
Amid speculation about the next Minister of Justice, names such as Democratic Party lawmakers Park Kyun-taek and Lee Geon-tae, who represented President Lee in legal matters, are being discussed.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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