Cheong Wa Dae: Cho Kuk Acknowledged Supplementary Investigation Last Year... Urges Cooperation in Completing Prosecution Reform

▲ Cheong Wa Dae

Following the Rebuilding Korea Party's backlash against President Lee Jae-myung's remarks addressing major issues surrounding prosecution reform—such as supplementary investigation powers—within the ruling bloc's support base, Cheong Wa Dae has issued a counter-rebuttal.

In a notice released by the spokesperson's office, Cheong Wa Dae explained, "Cho Kuk, head of the Innovation Policy Research Institute, appeared on the YouTube channel 'Chang Yoon-sun's Reporting Convenience Store' on August 29 of last year, where he stated his own position that 'supplementary investigation must be recognized' under certain conditions."

It also pointed out, "Regarding the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, he previously argued that it should be placed under the Ministry of Justice, but later changed the party platform to place it under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety."

"The Rebuilding Korea Party has stated by its own account that the practical content of the prosecution reform plans has changed according to reality and circumstances," Cheong Wa Dae noted, adding, "The detailed design of prosecution reform has been adjusted according to the discussion process and changing circumstances."

"President Lee's post on X (formerly Twitter) means that the grand vision and direction of prosecution reform aimed at achieving irreversible transformation of the prosecution organization, which has been accomplished, and this intent has never changed since the presidential election pledge," Cheong Wa Dae added. "We ask that rather than getting bogged down in minor details regarding prosecution reform, you join us in the process of achieving a high degree of completion for reforms that are already underway irreversibly."

Earlier, President Lee wrote on X, "The Rebuilding Korea Party, as well as most advocates of prosecution reform, suggested establishing a Serious Crime Investigation Agency in charge of investigations and a Public Prosecution Office in charge of indictments within the Ministry of Justice," alongside "arguments to grant supplementary investigation powers to the Public Prosecution Office."

In response, Park Byeong-eun, senior spokesperson for the Rebuilding Korea Party, issued a press statement countering that in 2024, they had proposed bills to place the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Justice, but later went through the party platform revision process to place the Serious Crime Investigation Agency under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and that they had argued for the right to demand supplementary investigations rather than supplementary investigation powers.

Cheong Wa Dae's subsequent notice is interpreted as an effort to correct certain facts by citing Cho's past remarks and emphasizing that the core issue lies in raising practical completion rather than whether the specific reform details have changed.

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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