[Anchor]

As concerns grow over the complete abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority following the Jang Yun-gi case, the Democratic Party has once again emphasized the need for speed. Some within the ruling bloc have even remarked that "we must not waver when we are 90 percent of the way toward completing prosecution reform" and that "cases of this nature occur several times a year." The conservative opposition party criticized the move, stating, "They are even attempting to destroy the public's safety net."

Jeong Yunsik reports on the latest from the political sphere.

[Reporter]

The Democratic Party today (July 11) defined the allegations of evidence concealment by the police regarding the 'Jang Yun-gi case' as 'complicity under the guise of investigation' and demanded a full reinvestigation.

However, regarding the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which includes the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority, the party emphasized that it is the final piece of the puzzle to complete prosecution reform and prevent the abuse of prosecutorial power.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, who served as the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in the first half of the National Assembly, also stepped forward, stating, "We must not waver when we are 90 percent of the way toward completing prosecution reform," and added, "Even if there is distrust and anxiety regarding the police taking over investigations, it cannot be used as an excuse to delay prosecution reform."

The People Power Party, which has defined the abolition of supplementary investigation authority as the destruction of the public's judicial safety net, criticized these remarks made on a pro-ruling party YouTube channel:

[Kim Ou-joon / Host of 'Humility Is Hard, News Factory' (July 9): Why is this being reported so extensively? Because cases of this level happen several times a year, but it is a case that connects to the police making mistakes and the need for supplementary investigation authority.]

[Kim Yong-min / Democratic Party Lawmaker: That is what is being argued right now.]

The opposition party criticized the attempt to dismiss even the Jang Yun-gi case as public opinion manipulation, calling it a barbaric act. The New Reform Party also pointed out that if the supplementary investigation authority is abolished, the truth could be buried several times a year.

The Democratic Party plans to accelerate the processing of the bill by continuing deliberations on the Criminal Procedure Act amendment at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee the day after tomorrow, but concerns within the party persist.

Lawmaker Kwak Sang-eun expressed opposition to the abolition of the supplementary investigation authority, stating that he does not agree with calling it reform to grant exclusive investigative powers to the police in order to prevent the prosecution's abuse of investigative power.

Lawmaker Kim Nam-hee, a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, also announced a joint press conference with organizations supporting victims of violence against women, expressing concern that the suffering of crime victims could be exacerbated if checks on police investigations are removed.

(Reported by Lee Seung-hwan | Video by Oh Young-taek)