The Presidential Office on the 26th dismissed reports that Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho had offered to resign, saying "no official resignation offer has been confirmed, and the resignation offer is not true." Although Chung, who appeared before the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee that day, said "my health is in very poor condition, and I have been consulting with those around the president," the Presidential Office made clear that no official procedure had taken place. This is effectively interpreted as President Lee Jae-myung dissuading Chung from resigning.
A Presidential Office official said this while meeting with reporters in Brazil, where President Lee is on a state visit, saying, "What has been reported in many news outlets is not true." Regarding some reports that Chung had earlier offered to resign, the official also said, "The reports are not true."
Regarding President Lee's cabinet reshuffle, the official was reserved, saying, "There is no set schedule or anticipated situation yet," and "We will be able to tell you when it is time to announce."
Meanwhile, Chung said at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee that day, "Once the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency are launched on October 2, I believe 95% of prosecution reform will have been achieved." He added, "Because prosecution reform has largely been completed in the broad framework, I have been thinking that new wine must be put in new wineskins, even before the announcement of the abolition of supplementary investigation authority." He continued, "My health is in very poor condition right now. I have had quite serious sleep disorders for several months," and "I had been consulting extensively with those around the president."
