[2025 Audit] Justice Minister Jeong Sung-ho: "Petition for Dissolution of People Power Party as Unconstitutional Possible Depending on Special Prosecutor's Findings"

Minister Jung: "If there was intentional support for martial law by not participating in its lifting, there should be appropriate measures"
"Even if investigation and prosecution are separated, the prosecution's international judicial cooperation must be maintained"

Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho is responding to a lawmaker's question during the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Ministry of Justice held at the National Assembly on the 14th.

Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho stated that, depending on the results of the special prosecutor's investigation related to the 12·3 Martial Law, the government could consider filing a petition for the dissolution of an unconstitutional political party.

During the audit of the Ministry of Justice by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly on the 14th, Democratic Party lawmaker Junghyun Hee asked, "If the special prosecutor's investigation reveals that the People Power Party engaged in acts of treason, will you file for a judgment to dissolve the unconstitutional party?" Minister Jung responded, "If the results come out, we will consider it."

Minister Jung added, "I cannot give a definitive judgment, but if the investigation reveals that there was intentional participation by the People Power Party in supporting the martial law by not taking part in its lifting, then there should be appropriate measures taken."

The dissolution of an unconstitutional party has only occurred once in the country's constitutional history, when the Unified Progressive Party was disbanded on the grounds of forming a 'Revolutionary Organization (RO)' and conspiring to commit insurrection.

Meanwhile, regarding concerns that international judicial cooperation could be weakened if the prosecution is dismantled in relation to the recent kidnapping and confinement of a Korean national in Cambodia, Minister Jung stated, "Even if investigation and prosecution are separated, the prosecution's responsibility for international judicial cooperation must be maintained in any way possible."

He further explained, "The initially responsible police station attempted to cooperate with the Cambodian police, but the process did not proceed smoothly. Afterward, the prosecution requested cooperation from the relevant prosecutor's office, and the prosecution is now taking the lead. These aspects should be considered in future discussions."