Chung Jungsik: "Police are arbitrarily burying cases... Abolition of supplementary investigation rights must be stopped"

People Power Party Floor Leader Chung Jungsik expressed concern today (the 25th), regarding the successive discovery of bodies presumed to be missing persons, including a case that was falsely closed in Jeju, saying, "South Korea is now degrading into a society where the police can arbitrarily bury cases."

Floor Leader Chung made the remarks during a floor countermeasures meeting held at the National Assembly, criticizing, "Even so, the government and the ruling party, not content with giving the police a monopoly on investigation powers, have turned even the supplementary investigation power—the minimum check and balance device—into a 'begging basket for votes at the Democratic Party's national convention'."

He continued, "When October arrives, the Prosecutors' Office will disappear, and supplementary investigation powers will be completely abolished. The burying of cases will become even more rampant," adding, "It will even become difficult to reveal the truth about how cases were distorted and covered up."

He pointed out, "Prime Minister Han Sung-sook urged the police to practice self-reflection and reform, and a Democratic Party lawmaker said that a system must be created to prevent the police from wielding omnipotent power. This is irresponsible, self-divided language," and criticized, "How is this any different from an arsonist setting a fire and then nagging someone else to put it out?"

He warned, "Even now, the plots to destroy the judicial system, including the abolition of supplementary investigation rights, must be halted immediately," adding, "Otherwise, the government and the ruling party will be no different from accomplices in various crimes committed by the police, such as burying cases and fabricating cover-ups that will happen in the future."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.