Justice Minister Sungsho Jung Steps Down: "Ensure the New Criminal Justice System Does Not Cause Innocent Citizens to Suffer"

At Farewell Ceremony, Urges Preemptive Measures Before Implementation
and Swift Improvements Afterward
Steps Down After One Year
"I Will Return to the National Assembly to Support the Justice Ministry"

As he stepped down, Justice Minister Sungsho Jung requested that the Ministry of Justice ensure that no innocent citizens are wronged during the implementation of the new criminal justice system.

Jung Sung-ho, Minister of Justice, is delivering a farewell speech at the Ministry of Justice building in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 26th. Photo by Yonhap News

At his farewell ceremony held at the Ministry of Justice building in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 26th, Minister Jung stated, "There are various concerns being raised ahead of the implementation of the new criminal justice system," and added, "I ask all of you, who are responsible for a crucial part of this system, to do your utmost to prevent any innocent citizens from suffering injustice during this period of change." He went on to say, "Please ensure that any potential issues identified before implementation are preemptively addressed, and respond swiftly to resolve any problems that arise afterward."

He also remarked, "We are now facing an unprecedented major transformation," and emphasized that the criminal justice system must "continue developing in a way that protects the safety of everyday life for citizens and ensures that no one suffers injustice through fair procedures."

Minister Jung further stressed the importance of crime prevention and correctional reform. He said, "Prevention and the reduction of recidivism are even more important than punishment," urging an enhancement of capabilities to respond to the increasing problem of juvenile crime. On correctional facilities, he stated, "If we fail to resolve issues of overcrowding, we cannot achieve the fundamental correctional goals of inmate rehabilitation and recidivism prevention," and called for diverse solutions to alleviate overcrowding.

He also addressed the issue of public trust in the Ministry of Justice. "Despite your dedication, it was truly regrettable to witness the Ministry losing the trust of the people," he said. "As Confucius said, 'If there is no trust, there is no standing.' Without the trust of the people, the state cannot stand, and if we cannot earn the people's trust, neither law nor justice can be fully established."

As achievements during his tenure, Minister Jung cited the expansion of organization, personnel, and budget. He said, "To become a truly efficient Ministry of Justice, we greatly expanded the organization, workforce, and budget, and over the past year, we passed more bills in the National Assembly than any other ministry." He pointed to strong crackdowns on crimes that undermine people's livelihoods, such as voice phishing, large-scale collusion, and drug crimes, as well as the advancement of perpetrator tracking systems and amendments to the Commercial Act to protect shareholders. He also mentioned that flexible immigration policies, such as the seasonal worker program, contributed to economic revitalization.

Regarding victim support, he mentioned the launch of '365 Smile Center', which offers counseling services at night and on weekends, the introduction of seizure-exempt living expense accounts, and the formation of a human rights investigation team for immigrants. On organizational management, he highlighted elevating the status and working conditions of correctional officers, expanding internal communication through talk concerts and town hall meetings between the minister and staff, and making executive meetings open to the public.

Meanwhile, Minister Jung, who took office in July last year, is stepping down after one year. He commented, "I will return to the National Assembly to faithfully carry out my duties there and wholeheartedly continue supporting the Ministry of Justice."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.