Passage of 'Abolition of Supplementary Investigation Powers' Approved… "Not Enough to Deny Legislative Power"

[Anchor]

The amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which completely abolishes prosecutors' investigative powers, has passed the Cabinet meeting. President Lee Jae-myung decided not to exercise his veto power, stating, "While there is controversy, it is difficult to view it as to the extent of denying the National Assembly's legislative power."

First, we have a report from reporter Kang Cheongwan.

[Reporter]

The Cabinet meeting where the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which abolishes prosecutors' direct investigation and supplementary investigation powers, was submitted as an agenda item.

President Lee Jae-myung noted that despite significant controversy and differing opinions, it did not reach the point of denying the National Assembly's legislative power.

[President Lee Jae-myung: It is difficult to view this bill as a situation serious enough to deny the National Assembly's legislative power, such as being unconstitutional, impossible to execute, contrary to the national interest, or infringing upon the inherent authority of the executive branch.]

Following the passage of the Criminal Procedure Act amendment through the National Assembly led by the ruling-leaning parties on July 31st, President Lee drew a line against exercising the veto power urged by the conservative opposition and some civil societies.

[President Lee Jae-myung: Exercising the veto power is not something that can be done simply because opinions differ, but rather according to the principle of the separation of powers...]

President Lee defined the system where prosecutors exercised concentrated powers such as investigation, indictment, and requests for warrants for decades as abnormal.

Regarding the police, who will take over the investigative powers, he added the following concerns.

[President Lee Jae-myung: The (police's) authority has grown enormously, but have they borne corresponding responsibilities, and can they bear them? I worked as a lawyer for many years, and I found it hard to trust the police in investigations, let alone the prosecutors.]

Citing the 'Jang Yoon-ki case' as an example, President Lee repeatedly emphasized that there must be no unfair victims.

[President Lee Jae-myung: The Jang Yoon-ki case symbolizes just one case, but how unfair would it be? For a public official, it is just one of dozens or hundreds of cases they handle, but for the parties involved, it is a matter of their life and livelihood.]

President Lee stated that no reform is concluded with a single institutional change, adding that insufficient and flawed parts will be supplemented.

[Video by Jeong Sang-bo and Ha Ryung]
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.