Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho submits resignation amid prosecution overhaul

Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho submitted his resignation Tuesday, citing health concerns and saying it was time for new leadership to complete the criminal justice system overhaul. 

Jung filed the letter with the Blue House and the Ministry of Personnel Management, according to legal sources. If it is accepted, Vice Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo will serve as acting minister.

“Major legislation related to prosecution reform has been completed,” Jung is understood to have written in the letter. “It is desirable for the new criminal justice system to be completed under new leadership.”

The revision to the Criminal Procedure Act stripped prosecutors of their remaining authority to conduct supplementary investigations when police investigations were inadequate, leaving them mainly with the power to indict.

The National Assembly passed the amendment on July 31, while retaining prosecutors’ authority to request additional investigation from police. 

Shortly after the bill passed, Jung, who was critical of the amendment, signaled he might step down from his position. 

“Shouldn’t new wine be poured into new wineskins?” he said at the time.

The Blue House had maintained that Jung never formally offered to resign. President Lee Jae Myung is understood to have told him at a closed Cabinet meeting on Aug. 4 to “hang in there,” effectively discouraging him from leaving.

BY JEONG HYE-JEONG [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]