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

[Anchor]

The Democratic Party of Korea has leaned toward completely abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers. The party argued that the claim that only direct investigations by prosecutors can protect victims is untrue, and it appears to aim to complete the legislation before the 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 concluded today (July 22), the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea indicated that it has leaned toward the "complete abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers," stating that various opinions were gathered and fierce discussions took place.

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

Despite growing concerns over the abolition of supplementary investigation powers following incidents such as the "Jang Yoon-gi case," the party maintained that "making the right to request supplementary investigations substantial" is its only alternative.

[Han Byeong-do, DPK 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 voiced opposition to the abolition at yesterday's policy meeting, criticized on social media that the deliberation process amounted to a mere "show," stating, "Those who wanted to listen had already made up their minds, and the minds of those who need to decide are elsewhere," and adding, "(Lawmakers) mentioned they cannot help but be mindful of hardline party members amid the race for party leadership."

In the Legislation and Judiciary Committee subcommittee currently reviewing the bill to abolish supplementary investigation powers, lawmakers from the pan-ruling camp hardline faction continued to argue today that leaving supplementary investigation powers intact could lead to abuse by prosecutors.

Previously, lawmakers from the pan-ruling camp raised issue with the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office's dismissal of a communications warrant for former Cheongju City Councilman Choi Yeong-jung, who faces allegations of minor prostitution, and visited the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office to protest.

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

[Kang Jun-hyun, DPK Senior Spokesperson: There is a stance that we should do it at the latest before the national convention.]

Some analyze that the party decided on swift processing because the survival of supplementary investigation powers, if intertwined with the advantages and disadvantages of candidates ahead of the national convention to elect the next leader, could intensify divisions within the ruling camp. Observations also suggest that an abolition bill could be processed led by the pan-ruling camp as early as next week.

(Photo courtesy of: 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.