[Audit Hot Figure] Chung Sung-ho Raises Possibility of Petition to Dissolve People Power Party as Unconstitutional Party

From Questioner to Respondent:
Minister Chung Draws Attention by Raising Possibility of Petition to Dissolve People Power Party

Chung Sung-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker who had consistently received praise for his policy-oriented questions during previous National Assembly audits, took the witness seat on October 14 during the Legislative and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Ministry of Justice, this time in his capacity as Justice Minister. Minister Chung, who has typically distanced himself from hardline rhetoric, attracted attention both inside and outside political circles by raising the possibility of a petition to dissolve the People Power Party as an unconstitutional party.

Sung-ho Jeong, Minister of Justice, is responding to a lawmaker's question at the Legislative and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Ministry of Justice held at the National Assembly on October 14, 2025. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

After the audit, Minister Chung shared his thoughts on social media, stating, "Since I began my legislative activities as a member of the Legislative and Judiciary Committee in 2004, I have always been the one asking questions during audits. Standing here today as the one providing answers, I am once again reminded of the greatness of the people who overcame rebellion and established the Lee Jaemyung administration." Minister Chung, who served in the 17th, 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd National Assemblies, is known for avoiding provocative language. He has won the Baekbong Gentleman Award, given to lawmakers recognized for their gentlemanly conduct, four times for this very reason.

Having played the role of questioner in audits for over 20 years, Minister Chung now appeared as a respondent and stated that, depending on the results of the special prosecutor's investigation into the December 3 Martial Law incident, he may consider filing a petition to dissolve the People Power Party as an unconstitutional party. In response to Democratic Party lawmaker Jun Hyunhee’s question-whether he would file such a petition if the special prosecutor's investigation revealed that the People Power Party had participated in acts of rebellion-he replied, "If such results emerge, I will review the matter." He added, "If it is revealed during the investigation that there was intent by the People Power Party not to participate in lifting martial law in order to support the enforcement of martial law, then appropriate measures should be taken." This marks the first time since taking office that Minister Chung has mentioned the possibility of dissolving the People Power Party.

Meanwhile, Minister Chung also expressed his commitment to "de-prosecutorialization" of the Ministry of Justice and the rebuilding of legal administration. Regarding concerns that international judicial cooperation, such as in the recent case of the kidnapping and confinement of a Korean national in Cambodia, could be weakened after the dismantling of the prosecution, he stated, "Even if investigation and prosecution are separated, the responsibility for international judicial cooperation held by the prosecution must be maintained in any way possible."