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Acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyeon has voiced deep concern over the ruling Democratic Party's move to pass a bill that would strip the prosecution of its direct and supplementary investigation powers, warning that the nation's criminal justice system could collapse. The party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, aims to pass the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act at Thursday's plenary session, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Koo issued a statement saying he was deeply concerned about the direction of ongoing parliamentary discussions on the amendments, including the proposed abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigative authority, which he said is mainly intended to protect victims in criminal cases. He stressed that the truth will be concealed if prosecutors lose their ability to inspect, supplement, and correct investigations conducted by primary investigative agencies, and that the resulting damage would be borne by the people who need state protection the most.

Coverage Comparison

The controversy surrounds a bill that would abolish the prosecution's supplementary investigative authority, a key component of the ruling party's broader policy to bar prosecutors from conducting direct investigations. While the party's leadership maintains the reform is necessary, critics, including Koo and others, express concern about the potential impact on victims' rights and the integrity of the criminal justice process.

Koo's statement was reported by Yonhap News Agency, which also noted that many people believe the supplementary investigative power is necessary, and that various sectors of society, including the legal community and women's and victims' groups, continue to express concern. The reform, he argued, should be pursued from the perspective of protecting people from crimes rather than simply eliminating the prosecution's authority.

However, hardliners within the ruling party have made clear they do not intend to back down. Rep. Seo Young-kyo, chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, dismissed the possibility of revising the bill, vowing to push it through without modification. During a news conference at the National Assembly on Sunday, Seo said prosecutors should focus on indictment while police devote themselves to investigations, and that the two sides must work together and strengthen cooperation.

While the coverage from Yonhap highlights the urgency of the reform for the ruling party, it also emphasizes the need to listen to concerns raised by opponents within the party and to devise stronger safeguards for victims, noting that the current bill leaves considerable room for police abuse of power.

Key Claims

  • Koo's warning: Acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyeon expressed deep concern that the truth will be concealed and the nation's criminal justice system will collapse if prosecutors lose their effective ability to inspect, supplement, and correct investigations conducted by primary investigative agencies. He stressed that the damage would be borne by the people who need state protection the most, according to Yonhap.
  • Abolition of supplementary investigative authority: The proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act would abolish the prosecution's supplementary investigative authority, which is intended to protect victims in criminal cases, as part of the ruling party's policy to bar prosecutors from conducting direct investigations, as reported by Yonhap.
  • Hardliners' stance: Rep. Seo Young-kyo, chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, dismissed the possibility of revising the bill, vowing to push it through without modification, according to a Yonhap report. He argued that prosecutors should focus on indictment while police conduct investigations, and that the two sides must cooperate.
  • Defamation case as illustration: The recent defamation case involving former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae illustrates the dangers of removing prosecutorial oversight, as reported by Yonhap. In 2022, Lee sued left-wing YouTuber Kim Ou-joon for defamation and spreading false information. After the police decided not to forward the case to prosecutors, prosecutors requested a reinvestigation, leading to the police eventually referring the case. In a ruling issued on July 14, the Seoul Northern District Court found Kim guilty and fined him 20 million won, with Lee welcoming the verdict and crediting prosecutors for requesting the reinvestigation.
  • Gwangju murder case: The Yonhap article also referenced a brutal murder case in Gwangju as another example of how victims can suffer when police powers go unchecked, though specific details of that case were not provided in the extracts.

Perspectives

  • Acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyeon: Koo warned that stripping prosecutors of their supplementary investigative authority would conceal the truth and collapse the criminal justice system, with the damage borne by the most vulnerable. He emphasized the need for reform pursued from the perspective of protecting people from crimes.
  • Rep. Seo Young-kyo (Democratic Party): Seo dismissed the possibility of revising the bill, insisting on the separation of investigative and prosecutorial roles, with police handling investigations and prosecutors focusing on indictment. He called for strengthened cooperation between the two sides.