SEOUL: Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho submitted his resignation Tuesday afternoon after expressing differences with the ruling Democratic Party over prosecutors' authority to conduct supplementary investigations, according to local reports.
Jung had raised concerns about abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers, while the Democratic Party has pushed to fully separate investigative and prosecutorial functions to prevent excessive power from being concentrated in the prosecution.
Prosecutors are allowed to conduct supplementary investigations when they determine that a police investigation is insufficient after receiving a case.
When the revised Criminal Procedure Act takes effect on Oct. 2, however, prosecutors will no longer be permitted to investigate such cases themselves. Instead, they will focus on reviewing investigation results, deciding whether to bring charges and handling cases in court.
In explaining his decision to step down, Jung cited health concerns. His resignation reportedly also stated that it would be "desirable for the new criminal justice system to be completed under new leadership," according to Yonhap News Agency and other local reports.
If Jung's resignation is accepted, Vice Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo will serve as acting justice minister. - Korea Herald/ANN
