Jung Sye-kyun: "I am a proponent of constitutional amendment... It remains a task as ruling and opposition parties fail to reach agreement"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun acknowledged the necessity of constitutional revision, stating, "I am a proponent of constitutional amendment."

On the 22nd, during a parliamentary question session, in response to a query from Choi Kang-wook, a member of the Open Democratic Party, Prime Minister Chung said, "Constitutional amendment is different from other legislation in that it requires agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. However, despite several opportunities, no consensus has been reached, so it remains an ongoing issue."

When asked whether the Prosecutor General holds a ministerial rank, he replied, "Under the Government Organization Act, the rank of important positions is determined," adding, "The Prosecutor General is designated as ministerial level within the government organization and is recognized as a constitutional body."

He emphasized that the deputy ministerial-level treatment has been abolished. He stated, "There is no basis for the claim that the chief prosecutors of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office hold deputy ministerial rank," and explained, "In the past, to treat chief prosecutors as deputy ministerial level, conveniences such as providing official vehicles and secretaries were given, but these practices have been revised, thereby abolishing the recognition of deputy ministerial status."

Regarding the question of whether he is willing to change the remnants of prosecutors dominating the Ministry of Justice, he said, "The prosecution must be reborn," and added, "I believe reforms desired by the public must be achieved, but changing the organizational structure, hierarchy, and internal practices requires more comprehensive review and should be done while building consensus among members as a task to be addressed."

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