DPK Leans Toward Total Abolition of Prosecutors' Supplementary Investigation Powers... Passing As Early As Next Week?

[Anchor]

The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has leaned toward completely abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers. Claiming that the notion that only direct investigations by prosecutors can protect victims is far from the truth, the party is reportedly planning to wrap up the legislation before its national convention in August.

Reporter Park Jae-yeon has the details.

[Reporter]

Just a day after a policy general meeting to listen to experts' opinions, the DPK leadership hinted today (July 22) that they have gathered various opinions, held fierce debates, and ultimately leaned toward the "complete abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers."

[Han Byung-do, DPK Floor Leader: Prosecutors do not investigate. There is no disagreement within the party on this fundamental principle.]

Despite mounting concerns over abolishing supplementary investigation powers sparked by cases such as the "Jang Yoon-ki case," the party maintained that "making the right to demand supplementary investigations substantive" is its sole alternative.

[Han Byung-do, DPK Floor Leader: The argument that prosecutors must conduct direct investigations to protect victims is proven untrue when looking back at the prosecutors' dark past.]

Professor Park Chan-woon of Hanyang University Law School, who voiced opposition to the abolition at yesterday's policy meeting, criticized on social media, writing, "Those who wanted to listen had already made up their minds, and the minds of those who need to make the decision are elsewhere," and adding, "(Lawmakers) also mentioned that they cannot help but be mindful of hardline party members amid the race for party leadership," implying that the deliberation process was merely for show.

At the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's subcommittee currently reviewing the bill to abolish supplementary investigation powers, pan-ruling camp hardline lawmakers argued today that leaving supplementary investigation powers intact could lead to abuse by prosecutors.

Earlier, pan-ruling camp lawmakers visited the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office to protest, taking issue with the prosecution's rejection of a communication warrant for former Cheongju City Councilman Choi Young-jung, who is accused of underage sex trafficking.

Having leaned toward complete abolition, the DPK has set the August 17 national convention as the deadline for processing the bill.

[Kang Jun-hyeon, DPK Senior Spokesperson: There is a general stance to push for it without letting it pass the national convention if possible.]

Analysts suggest this swift action is intended to prevent further internal division within the ruling camp, which could worsen if the fate of supplementary investigation powers gets entangled with the advantages and disadvantages of candidates ahead of the convention to elect the next party leader. Consequently, projections are emerging that the abolition bill could be processed under the leadership of the pan-ruling camp as early as next week.

(Photo courtesy of Yonhap News)
(Reported by Oh Young-chun, Shin Dong-hwan, Kim Yong-woo | Video by Nam Il | Graphics by Jang Chae-woo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.