[Anchor]

Within the ruling party, opinions have publicly clashed between those arguing that the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights should be exceptionally permitted to protect the socially vulnerable, and those claiming that anything short of a complete abolition would be a retreat from prosecution reform. Amidst this, writer Rhyu Si-min, known for his pro-ruling party stance, has caused a stir by stating that the reason prosecution reform has not been achieved so far is because "President Lee Jae-myung does not want the complete separation of investigation and indictment."

Reported by Kim Kwan-jin.

[Reporter]

The plenary session of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee was held in the absence of People Power Party lawmakers.

Regarding the issue of the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights, ruling party lawmakers clashed between the argument that it should be exceptionally permitted to protect crime victims,

[Kim Nam-hee/Democratic Party Lawmaker: Too many opinions are being poured out. The Lee Jae-myung administration must take responsibility for all future problems.]

and the argument that alternatives must be prepared under the principle of total abolition.

[Kim Yong-min/Democratic Party Lawmaker: Let us design a system that completely blocks the abuse of power by prosecutors institutionally, while ensuring the state is not negligent in providing relief to victims....]

As the party leadership, which had previously stated that the complete abolition of supplementary investigation rights was a firm principle, began to show signs of adjusting the pace by saying, "It has never been decided as a party platform," public backlash followed.

[Han Byung-do/Democratic Party Floor Leader: We will also widely collect opinions from the legal community, academia, and civil society, and engage in intense discussion and deliberation....]

[Park Gyu-hwan/Democratic Party Supreme Council Member: Could (prosecution reform) be running aground due to the collusion and betrayal of Democratic Party lawmakers?]

In the midst of this, writer Rhyu Si-min, known as a commentator for the pan-ruling camp, stated that some ruling party lawmakers opposing the complete abolition of supplementary investigation rights and proposing bills for partial permission are doing so because they know the thoughts of President Lee Jae-myung, and said the following:

[Rhyu Si-min/Writer (YouTube 'Choi Wook's Maebul Show'): The reason prosecution reform has not been achieved for over a year is because the President does not want the complete separation of investigation and indictment.... Leaving aside whether it is right or wrong, it is heading down a path of inevitable failure.]

In response, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jie-won, who shifted his position from total abolition to limited permission of supplementary investigation rights following the 'Jang Yoon-ki case,' criticized Rhyu on social media, asking, "What has the Democratic Party's prosecution reform, such as the dismantling of the Prosecutors' Office, been until now?" and stating that it "has caused great harm to the Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party." Lawmaker Jang Cheol-min also sharpened his tone, saying, "Writer Rhyu has crossed the line."

Meanwhile, conflict within the ruling camp is intensifying, with protest comments from party members and supporters continuing on the social media accounts of some ruling party lawmakers who supported the bill for the exceptional permission of supplementary investigation rights.

(Video coverage: Oh Young-chun, Kim Yong-woo | Video editing: Park Sun-soo | Graphics: Choi Jin-hwe)