[Anchor]
While opposition to the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation powers has been growing within the Democratic Party, all candidates for the party leadership are leaning toward abolition as the national convention approaches next month.
Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon examines the variables that could affect the legislation.
[Reporter]
Most candidates for the Democratic Party's leadership election have taken a stance in favor of the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation powers, calling for it to be completed before the August 17 national convention or as soon as possible.
[Kim Min-seok / Former Prime Minister (July 16, SBS News Briefing): Since other political schedules will follow after the national convention, it would be best to wrap it up as quickly as possible under the current leadership.]
[Jung Chung-rae / Former Democratic Party Representative (July 16): Supplementary investigation powers must be completely abolished. It is a promise and a grand principle of our government and the Democratic Party.]
The Democratic Party leadership also maintains that since the Major Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Service are set to launch on October 2, the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which includes the abolition of supplementary investigation powers, must be processed by August at the latest.
The calculation is that if the public discussion process is carried out this week and the subcommittee review at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is completed this month, passage through the remaining Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the plenary session will be possible before August 17, when the Democratic Party's national convention is held.
The variable is how much louder the voices of opposition within the party will become, arguing that a full abolition of supplementary investigation powers would have significant side effects.
During a policy general meeting of lawmakers yesterday (July 21), opinions clashed between those arguing that the powers should be maintained in a limited capacity to keep the police in check and protect victims, and those arguing for abolition, citing cases where the prosecution has hindered the investigation of crimes.
[Hong Ki-won / Democratic Party Lawmaker (In favor of limited maintenance of supplementary investigation powers): I am arguing that it must be maintained precisely to protect victims.]
[Kim Seung-won / Democratic Party Lawmaker (In favor of abolition of supplementary investigation powers): (In the Choi Young-joong case involving allegations of underage prostitution,) the prosecution's request for a search and seizure warrant for supplementary investigation caused a 4-day delay, and the communication warrant was completely dismissed....]
The People Power Party and other conservative opposition parties, which decided to return to the National Assembly schedule yesterday, are expected to attempt to block the legislation of the bill to abolish supplementary investigation powers.
(Video reporting: Oh Young-chun, Kim Yong-woo | Video editing: Won Hyung-hee | Graphics: Han Song-yeon)
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