The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) criticized today (Sep. 5) that the People Power Party is "neglecting follow-up legislation to accelerate preparations for the launch of the Prosecution Service and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency."

Floor Spokesperson Lee Ju-hee made the remarks in a written briefing, stating, "There is now less than a month left until the launch of the Prosecution Service and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, and a major transition separating investigation and indictment will begin on the 2nd of next month."

Floor Spokesperson Lee pointed out, "The People Power Party has proposed a party-level bill to delay the launch of the Prosecution Service and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency by a year, and has even filed a constitutional petition against the revised Criminal Procedure Act," adding, "It is tantamount to setting up defensive lines in both the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court."

She continued, "We ask whether the purpose of delaying the launch of the Prosecution Service and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency by a year is not to settle the system, but to abort it."

She said, "The organizational structure and staffing of the Prosecution Service have not yet been finalized, and related laws and regulations that need to be reorganized remain," adding, "The government must hurry to finalize the organizational structure and reorganize the laws, and the National Assembly will firmly back this up with follow-up legislation."

At the same time, she emphasized, "The DPK will closely monitor the field to ensure there are no investigation vacuums or case delays," and "we will take full responsibility until the new criminal justice system successfully takes root alongside the public."

(Photo: Yonhap News)