As Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho publicly expressed his intention to resign, the ruling and opposition parties clashed head-on on the 27th at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee over an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which centers on completely abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights. The People Power Party pressed that if Chung's resignation stems from the Democratic Party's forced push to abolish supplementary investigation rights, the president should be advised to exercise his veto.
At the committee's plenary meeting that day, Chung effectively reaffirmed his intention to resign, saying, "We have declared the grand principle of separating investigation and prosecution, and once the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Agency launch on October 2, 95% of prosecutorial reform will be achieved." He added, "Personally, I believe new wine should be put into new wineskins." He continued, "My health has been very poor recently, and considering that aspect, I have discussed this at length with those around the president."
However, the Democratic Party repeatedly urged Chung to remain, saying he must take responsibility for and complete the final stage of prosecutorial reform.
Rep. Park Jie-won said, "He should finish launching the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Agency in October; resigning makes no sense." He added, "The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency must be carefully designed so that police can conduct supplementary investigations for the socially vulnerable. (Chung's) health can hold up until the end of this year."
Rep. Lee Sung-yoon also said, "We must not leave personnel premised on direct investigation by prosecutors," adding, "The minister must play his role until the end so that the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Agency launch properly."
In contrast, the People Power Party went on the counterattack, linking Chung's fate to the Democratic Party's legislative push. Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun said, "In the end, isn't this an expression of helplessness over the abolition of supplementary investigation rights?" He pointed out, "For a minister who should be further persuading the National Assembly to express his intention to resign is an irresponsible dereliction of duty."
Rep. Kwak Kyu-taek also questioned, "A majority of the public oppose abolishing supplementary investigation rights," asking, "If the bill is being pushed through because of the ruling party's need for a convention, shouldn't the president be advised to exercise his veto?"
As the controversy grew, the presidential office again drew a line and moved to contain it. A key presidential office official said, "No official expression of resignation intent by the justice minister has been confirmed."
At the meeting that day, disputes continued not only over Chung's future but also over the content and processing procedure of the Criminal Procedure Act amendment.
The Democratic Party argued that under the grand principle of separating investigation and prosecution, it is sufficient to leave open only a minimal channel to prevent shoddy police investigations. Rep. Kim Yong-min said, "Looking at victims' opinions, the key is that victims' rights must be sufficiently protected during judicial proceedings," adding, "I do not think that prosecutors conducting direct and supplementary investigations is the only and best solution."
In contrast, the People Power Party pushed back, saying that if prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights are completely abolished, the mechanism to check police's shoddy and delayed investigations would disappear, potentially leading to harm for the public. Rep. Park Hyeong-su stressed, "The biggest purpose of supplementary investigation rights is the function of guaranteeing human rights," emphasizing, "We must not break down the basic structure of the Criminal Procedure Act that allows people to appeal again to the prosecution when there is injustice in police investigations."
Meanwhile, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee that day tabled four "National Election Commission Special Prosecutor Act" bills to investigate the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, along with six Criminal Procedure Act amendment bills centered on completely abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights, and referred them to the legislative review subcommittee.
The Democratic Party plans to pass the Criminal Procedure Act amendment at the committee's plenary meeting on the 29th of this month and then finalize it at the plenary session on the 30th. Chief Spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun reaffirmed the plan to push the legislation through, saying, "We have a strong will to pass the Criminal Procedure Act at the plenary session on the 30th."
