Justice Minister Jeong submits resignation, paving way for return to National Assembly

Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho submitted his resignation Tuesday.

According to legal sources, Jeong submitted his resignation to Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Personnel Management. He had previously signaled his intention to step down, citing health reasons.

Jeong had expressed the view that, with major prosecutorial reform legislation now complete and the Prosecution Service set to be abolished in October — replaced by a new Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and a Public Prosecution Office — "it is desirable for the new criminal justice system to be completed under new leadership."

Before the amended Code of Criminal Procedure abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigative powers passed the National Assembly floor vote on July 31, Jeong had voiced opposition to a full abolition of those powers. He was also reported to have expressed his intention to resign shortly after the Democratic Party of Korea adopted the abolition as official party policy.

At a commissioning ceremony for newly appointed prosecutors at the government complex in Gwacheon on Monday, Jeong said, "My health has deteriorated not because of any single recent issue but because of a range of problems. Because I am not in good health, I feel burdened carrying out my duties as justice minister, and that is why I expressed my intention to resign."

President Lee Jae Myung was reported to have told Jeong at a closed-door Cabinet meeting on Aug. 4 to "hang in there," a remark widely interpreted as an attempt to dissuade him from stepping down.

If Jeong's resignation is accepted, Vice Minister of Justice Lee Jin-su is expected to serve as acting minister.