[Anchor]
Debate within the ruling bloc over the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights is intensifying. Opinions are publicly clashing between those who argue that supplementary investigation rights should be exceptionally permitted to protect the socially vulnerable, and those who claim that anything short of complete abolition represents a retreat in prosecution reform. Meanwhile, remarks made by pro-government writer Ryu Si-min, who stated that "President Lee Jae-myung does not want the complete separation of investigation and prosecution," are also causing repercussions.
Report by Kim Kwan-jin.
[Reporter]
The plenary session of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee was held yesterday (July 15) without the participation of the People Power Party lawmakers.
Regarding the issue of the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights, arguments among ruling party lawmakers clashed between the need for exceptional permission to protect crime victims, and the necessity of preparing alternatives under the principle of total abolition.
[Kim Nam-hee/Democratic Party Lawmaker: Too many opinions are pouring in. The Lee Jae-myung administration must take responsibility for all future problems.]
[Kim Yong-min/Democratic Party Lawmaker: Let us design a system that completely blocks the abuse of power by prosecutors institutionally, while ensuring the state does not neglect victim relief....]
The floor leadership stated this morning that they would continue to discuss the matter cautiously and calmly within the party and the standing committee.
[Kim Han-kyu/Democratic Party Senior Deputy Floor Leader: Under the principle of separating investigation and prosecution, we will design the system meticulously so that there are no loopholes.]
Former party leader Jung Chung-rae, who attended a debate on the revision of the Criminal Procedure Act held at the National Assembly, emphasized the total abolition of supplementary investigation rights.
[Jung Chung-rae/Former Democratic Party Leader: Supplementary investigation rights are also investigation rights. Maintaining supplementary investigation rights under the principle of separating investigation and prosecution does not align with the grand principle.]
Amidst this, writer Ryu Si-min, known as a commentator for the pan-ruling bloc, claimed that some ruling party lawmakers are opposing the complete abolition of supplementary investigation rights and proposing bills to allow them partially because they know the thoughts of President Lee Jae-myung. He stated the following:
[Ryu Si-min/Writer (YouTube 'Choi Wook's Maebul Show'): The reason prosecution reform has not been achieved for over a year is because the President does not want the complete separation of investigation and prosecution.... Regardless of whether it is right or wrong, it is heading down an inevitable path to failure.]
In response, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jie-won, who shifted his position from total abolition to limited permission of supplementary investigation rights following the 'Jang Yoon-ki case,' criticized Ryu on social media, asking, "What has the Democratic Party been doing regarding prosecution reform, including the dismantling of the Prosecutors' Office, until now?" and added that the remarks "caused great harm to the Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party." Lawmaker Ko Min-jung also criticized the comments, stating, "Trying to divide everything into good and evil is actually the path to certain failure."
(Video Editing: Yoo Mi-ra)
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