[Anchor]

Amid growing social concerns over the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers, the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) stated today (July 22), "There is no disagreement whatsoever on the grand principle that prosecutors do not conduct investigations."

Here is a report by reporter Ha Jeongyeon.

[Reporter]

Following a policy general meeting held yesterday to listen to experts' opinions on abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority, the DPK leadership convened a meeting this morning.

Right at the start of the meeting, the DPK leadership explicitly underscored the necessity of prosecution reform.

[Han Byung-do, Acting DPK Leader and Floor Leader : Prosecution reform is not a slogan that appeared out of nowhere. Looking back at the dark past of the prosecution, claims that prosecutors must directly investigate to protect victims are proven untrue.]

They added that there is no dissent within the party regarding the grand principle that prosecutors do not investigate, effectively signaling their determination to completely abolish supplementary investigation powers.

[Han Byung-do, Acting DPK Leader and Floor Leader : The discussion has fully matured. If the public asks us later why we did not act when we had the chance, what answer could we possibly give?]

This is interpreted as the leadership formalizing a stance of complete abolition, even as cautious views within the party grow calling for limited supplementary investigation powers to be permitted.

Stating that the time has come to unite the party's general consensus, the DPK leadership is expected to accelerate the legislative revision process with the goal of passing the bill before the August 17 party convention.

[Kang Jun-hyun, Senior Spokesperson for the DPK : Our stance is to reach a conclusion promptly. There is a firm stance to handle this before the party convention as much as possible.]

Meanwhile, DPK lawmakers, including Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chairperson Seo Young-kyo, paid a protest visit to the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office today regarding the investigation into former Cheongju City Councilman Choi Young-joong's alleged child prostitution.

They are taking issue with the circumstances surrounding the prosecution's rejection of communication warrants. As cautious voices regarding the abolition of supplementary investigation powers erupt, hardliners within the party appear to be using this issue to turn the tide.

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee will also hold an emergency pending issue inquiry this afternoon regarding the matter.

(Video by Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Won Hyung-hee)