[Anchor]
Writer Rhyu Si-min's remarks that President Lee Jae-myung is on a path to inevitable failure are continuing to cause repercussions. While pro-Lee figures have voiced strong criticism in unison, former party leader Jung Chung-rae avoided making direct comments.
Reporter Kim Kwan-jin has the story.
[Reporter]
A debate on the revision of the Criminal Procedure Act was held, attended by lawmakers from the pan-ruling bloc who are classified as hardliners on prosecution reform.
Former Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae raised his voice in favor of the complete abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights.
[Jung Chung-rae/Former Democratic Party Leader: It will eventually become a breach of promise to the public, not just by the Democratic Party, but by the entire democratic reform camp.]
On the other hand, Representative Hong Ki-won, who proposed a bill to allow limited supplementary investigation rights, repeatedly emphasized the protection of victims.
[Hong Ki-won/Democratic Party Lawmaker (YouTube 'Kim Ou-joon's Humility is Hard News Factory'): (With the supplementary investigation rights), the relief for victims, especially the socially vulnerable, will be stronger than when they do not exist. I hope there will be some deliberation on what kind of suffering victims might experience further.]
The conflict within the pan-ruling bloc over supplementary investigation rights has intensified following writer Rhyu Si-min's claim that the reason prosecution reform has not been achieved is because President Lee Jae-myung does not want the separation of investigation and prosecution.
The Blue House stated that it would not respond separately, but effectively dismissed Rhyu's claim, stating that the Blue House and President Lee Jae-myung have never wavered in their commitment to the core value of prosecution reform, which is the separation of investigation and prosecution.
[Kang Yu-jung/Chief Spokesperson of the Blue House: We do not hold a separate position or respond to the remarks of a specific individual.]
Among the candidates for party leadership, former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok criticized Rhyu, saying his remarks went beyond the realm of conventional commentary.
[Kim Min-seok/Former Prime Minister: You have strongly attacked presidents of the democratic camp many times. And that has not always been correct.]
Former party leader Song Young-gil and lawmaker Ko Min-jung also joined in the criticism.
[Song Young-gil/Former Democratic Party Leader: Isn't it inappropriate to express it in a way that sounds like a curse or malicious talk?]
[Ko Min-jung/Democratic Party Lawmaker: I think that trying to divide everything into good and evil is actually the path to certain failure.]
While former leader Jung said "no comment" to questions regarding Rhyu, he added, "Prosecution reform is the identity of the Democratic Party, and if we fail, the next general election will also be difficult."
With the August 17 national convention just one month away, concerns are rising that the issue of supplementary investigation rights has become a flashpoint for conflict within the ruling bloc, potentially making deliberation and debate even more difficult.
(Video coverage: Oh Young-chun, Kim Yong-woo | Video editing: Yoo Mi-ra | Design: Choi Jin-hoe)
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