DP leans toward full abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers... targeted for July?

[Anchor]

The Democratic Party, which has been holding deliberation procedures on whether to abolish prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers, has leaned toward a full abolition. Arguing that it is not true that only direct investigations by prosecutors can protect victims, the party appears to aim to complete legislation before its national convention on August 17.

Reporter Park Jae-yeon has the details.

[Reporter]

Just a day after a policy general meeting to listen to experts' opinions, the Democratic Party leadership hinted yesterday (July 22) that they have gathered various opinions and held fierce discussions, leaning toward the complete abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers.

[Han Byeong-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: Prosecutors do not investigate. There is no disagreement within the party on this grand principle.]

Even amid growing concerns over the abolition of supplementary investigation powers following cases like the "Jang Yoon-ki incident," the party put forward "making the right to demand supplementary investigations substantive" as its only alternative.

[Han Byeong-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: Looking back at the prosecutors' dark past, we can see that the argument that prosecutors must investigate directly to protect victims is not true.]

Professor Park Chan-woon of Hanyang University Law School, who expressed opposition to the abolition during the policy general meeting the day before yesterday, criticized on social media that "those who wanted to hear had already decided the answer, and the hearts of those who need to make decisions are elsewhere," adding, "(Lawmakers) also mentioned that they cannot help but mind hardline party members in the race for party leadership," implying that the deliberation procedure was merely for show.

At the Legislation and Judiciary Committee subcommittee in the National Assembly, which is reviewing the bill to abolish supplementary investigation powers, pro-ruling bloc hardline lawmakers continued to argue yesterday that leaving supplementary investigation powers could lead to abuse by prosecutors.

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

The Democratic Party, having leaned toward total abolition, has also set the August 17 national convention as the deadline for processing the bill.

[Kang Jun-hyeon / Senior Spokesperson for the Democratic Party: There is a stance to handle it as much as possible without passing the national convention.]

Some analyze that the party decided on a prompt handling because if the survival or abolition of supplementary investigation powers becomes intertwined with the advantages and disadvantages of candidates ahead of the national convention to elect the next leader, divisions within the ruling bloc could intensify further. There are also projections that the abolition bill could be processed led by the pro-ruling bloc as early as next week.

(Video Shooting: Oh Young-chun, Shin Dong-hwan, Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing: Yu Mi-ra | Design: Jang Chae-woo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.