As the Democratic Party of Korea decided to push as a party platform a bill to revise the Criminal Procedure Act to abolish prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority, attention is focusing on the future of Minister Jung Sung-ho, who has routinely voiced concerns. In legal circles, there is speculation that if the Criminal Procedure Act revision bill passes the National Assembly, Minister Jung is highly likely to formally submit his resignation to President Lee Jae-myung.
On the 27th, Minister Jung attended a full session of The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. When Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won asked, "When the president returns to the country, will you directly express your intention to resign?" Jung replied, "New wine should be put in new wineskins." The response is seen as a veiled expression of his intent to step down. He added that his health is not good and that he has been discussing his position with the president's close aides.
Earlier, responding to ChosunBiz's question about his intention to resign, Minister Jung said on the 25th, "I did not speak directly to the chief (the president), but I conveyed my intention to resign to aides a long time ago."
In legal circles, there is analysis that differences between Minister Jung and the Democratic Party influenced his decision to resign. Minister Jung has repeatedly said that sufficient alternatives are needed, expressing concern about side effects from abolishing the supplementary investigation authority. At the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 15th, he said, "If the abolition of the supplementary investigation authority is the premise, we must ensure that there is not even 1% of unjust victims."
The Democratic Party is moving quickly to pass the Criminal Procedure Act revision bill. Floor leader Han Byeong-do said at the party's supreme council meeting that day, "The Democratic Party's principle is only one: the prosecuting prosecutors do not investigate," adding, "We will make sure to pass the Criminal Procedure Act revision bill at this week's plenary session."
If the Criminal Procedure Act revision bill passes, the prosecution organization could also be shaken. A senior prosecution official said, "If the Criminal Procedure Act revision bill passes, Acting Chief Gu will have no choice but to consider his position." Acting Chief Gu is currently on leave.
However, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said Acting Chief Gu is not currently at the stage of considering his position. An official at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said, "We will do our best to ensure that the revision of the Criminal Procedure Act goes in a direction that benefits the public."
There are also concerns that if the Criminal Procedure Act passes the National Assembly and both the Minister of Justice and the acting prosecutor general positions become vacant at the same time, the de facto channel for the prosecution to convey its position to the government and the National Assembly could disappear. In that case, with the Prosecution Service slated for abolition in Oct., follow-up institutional adjustments stemming from the Criminal Procedure Act revision would inevitably face setbacks.
A division chief prosecutor at a district prosecutors' office in the capital region said, "Inside, the mood is already one of giving up," and added, "It also seems like an intention to make the Democratic Party fully bear all responsibility for what happens after the Criminal Procedure Act revision bill passes."