Jung Sung Ho: "No Differences on Prosecutorial Reform... I Only Conveyed Various Opinions to the Party"

When Asked About the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency: "No Personal Opinion"
"The Initiative for Legislation Lies with the Party"

On August 28, Justice Minister Jung Sung Ho stated that there are "no differences of opinion" regarding the controversy over prosecutorial reform.

Minister Jung made this remark when asked by reporters at a parliamentary workshop held at Paradise City in Incheon, in preparation for the regular National Assembly session, about whether there are internal disagreements within the party regarding the direction of prosecutorial reform.

Previously, on social media, he commented, "To prevent the public from suffering due to blame-shifting between investigative and prosecutorial agencies, investigation delays, or poor investigations, it is necessary to design practical and thorough systems." He added, "We need to consider how to maintain investigative capacity for serious crimes, prevent the abuse of investigative authority, and ensure proper democratic oversight."

Justice Minister nominee Sung Ho Jung answers reporters' questions as he arrives for his first day at the confirmation hearing preparation office set up in Jeokseon Hyundai Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul on July 1, 2025. Photo by Cho Yongjun

In response, concerns were raised within the party. Assemblyman Min Hyungbae, who serves as the chairman of the Democratic Party’s Special Committee on Prosecutorial Reform, said, "The party leadership feels that perhaps the minister has gone a bit too far," adding, "Since the party has not yet announced its position, there are concerns about whether the minister is fulfilling his proper role by making such statements."

Regarding this, Minister Jung said, "The initiative for legislation lies with the party, not the government," and regarding the suggestion that he was expressing a personal opinion, he stated, "I was not asserting my own views, but merely conveying that there are various opinions. In any case, I trust that the party’s assembly members will gather a wide range of opinions and handle this well."

When asked whether he believes it would be more reasonable for the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to be placed under the Ministry of Justice, he replied, "I have no personal opinion on that." He added, "I have conveyed various opinions up to now, but from this point on, the focus of legislation should be on the members of the National Assembly, who represent the will of the people," thereby deferring the matter to the party.