Concerns Within Ruling Bloc Over Abolishing Prosecution's Supplementary Investigation Rights; How to Address Them?

[Anchor]

As additional charges against Jang Yun-gi have been uncovered through the prosecution's supplementary investigation, the ruling bloc is accelerating efforts to finalize prosecution reform, with the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights at its core. However, some within the party are voicing concerns about potential side effects.

Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon has the story.

[Reporter]

At the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting held on July 2, attended only by lawmakers from the ruling bloc.

Lawmakers demanded a swift process for amending the Criminal Procedure Act to abolish the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights.

[Park Eun-jung / Rebuilding Korea Party Lawmaker: The amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act must be processed within July so that the prosecution reform desired by the public can be achieved.]

If the Criminal Procedure Act is amended in line with the ruling bloc's stance to abolish supplementary investigation rights based on the principle of separating investigation and indictment, prosecutors at the Public Prosecution Office, set to launch this October, will only be responsible for tasks such as indicting cases investigated by the police to the court.

There are concerns that there would be no way to intervene if police investigations are insufficient or shoddy. The amendment proposed by lawmakers from the ruling bloc includes a "right to request supplementary investigation," which allows prosecutors to ask the police to verify facts, stipulating that "the police must implement supplementary investigations without delay unless there is a justifiable reason."

Nevertheless, some within the ruling party are expressing concerns about side effects such as delays in case processing or the excessive expansion of police power.

Opinions include that "it is true there are many voices of concern regarding the abolition of supplementary investigation rights, and we must address what needs to be addressed," or that "if public sentiment is unfavorable, we could discuss conditionally retaining the supplementary investigation rights."

Minister of Justice Jeong Sung-ho also highlights the fact that the prosecution uncovered through supplementary investigation that Jang Yun-gi, the suspect in the Gwangju high school girl murder case, committed the murder for the purpose of sexual assault, and he remains negative about the total abolition of supplementary investigation rights.

Seo Young-kyo, the Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, stated that she would sufficiently discuss safeguards through party task forces.

[Seo Young-kyo / Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (Democratic Party Lawmaker): Since there are demands for mechanisms to check cases where police investigations are not conducted properly when the prosecution deadline mentioned by the President is approaching, or to replace investigators, all such devices are being requested.]

It is reported that lawmakers from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and Minister Jeong also discussed various issues regarding the abolition of supplementary investigation rights during a Democratic Party workshop.

The People Power Party maintains the position that supplementary investigation rights are essential, so clashes between the ruling and opposition parties are expected during the legislative process.

(Video reporting: Oh Young-chun, Video editing: Park Sun-soo)

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