President Lee and Minister Jung Sung-ho have differing views on the Criminal Procedure Act revision

At the 업무보고 on the 5th, Minister of Justice Jeong Seongho, who had expressed his intention to resign to President Lee Jaemyung, revealed a difference of opinion over the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act and the operation of the joint investigative headquarters between the police and the prosecution. President Lee said, in effect, that prosecutors’ investigations are also possible unless they are explicitly prohibited by law, but Minister Jeong countered that under the revised legal framework, the legal basis for investigations has weakened. In particular, he expressed concern that if there are no investigation guidelines or clear regulations, problems could arise in the process of maintaining prosecutions. President Lee replied that they could simply make investigation guidelines, and Minister Jeong said that, as things stand, there are no supporting regulations. Regarding reinvestigations of cases not forwarded for prosecution, Minister Jeong also explained that for cases initiated by the police and closed at the first stage, the prosecution’s interest could decrease further. This facetoface meeting drew attention because it was the first since Minister Jeong publicly announced his intention to resign. According to officials from the Office of the President, President Lee was said to have told Minister Jeong after the previous day’s closeddoor State Council meeting, “Do well and hang in there.”