[Q&A] Choo Mi-ae: "Separation of Investigation and Prosecution Requires Public Consensus... We Are in a Transitional Period"

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is announcing the "Follow-up Measures Plan for Power Institution Reform" for a fair society without privileges at the Government Seoul Office on the 31st. From left, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, Minister of the Interior and Safety Jin Young, and Prime Minister Chung.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, reporters Lim Cheolyoung and Lee Gwanju] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced that, as part of follow-up measures for reforming power institutions such as the prosecution, police, and National Intelligence Service, a "Preparation Team for the Establishment of the High-ranking Officials' Corruption Investigation Office (Corruption Investigation Office)" will be set up under the Prime Minister's Office, and a "Follow-up Task Force for Prosecution-Police Investigation Authority Adjustment" will be formed to revise subordinate regulations. The government will also introduce a local police system and establish a National Investigation Headquarters.

On the 31st, Prime Minister Chung announced the "Follow-up Measures Plan for Power Institution Reform" for a fair society without privileges at the Government Seoul Office. He stated, "We have established institutional mechanisms to fundamentally prevent the abuse of power through checks and balances among power institutions," and added, "The establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office and the adjustment of investigation authority between the prosecution and the police will serve as a new stepping stone toward a fair society without privileges by democratizing power institutions."

After Prime Minister Chung's address, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Minister of the Interior and Safety Jin Young held a Q&A session on the direction of power institution reform. The following is a summary of the questions and answers.

- Is there a plan to further promote the separation of investigation and prosecution?

▲Minister Choo Mi-ae (Choo): We have clearly stated the principle of decentralization in protecting human rights and the criminal justice process. This power institution reform is the first to be properly implemented since liberation. Until now, the work of protecting human rights has been sidelined, and instead, collusion with power that infringed on human rights has heightened public concern. To reform this, we will gradually reduce the scope of direct investigations by the prosecution, and when the National Investigation Headquarters is established, the Ministry of Justice will also support the development of professional investigative capabilities. Ultimately, separation is the right direction, but public consensus is necessary. If the public desires it, the National Assembly should respond accordingly. For now, I would say we are in a transitional period.

- What internal and external control mechanisms are in place regarding the police's authority to close investigations?

▲Minister Jin Young (Jin): By establishing the National Investigation Headquarters, we are separating general police and investigative police, and have also put in place mechanisms to control investigations. There are more than ten checks by the prosecution, including during the warrant application process and requests for supplementary investigations. There are also internal checks within the National Investigation Headquarters. We will ensure that investigations by the National Investigation Headquarters are professional and that investigative capabilities do not decline.

- What progress has been made in reforming the intelligence police?

▲Jin: We have reduced the number of intelligence police by 10%, and more importantly, we are limiting the scope of their work. Intelligence activities are now restricted to matters that threaten public safety, and abuse has been prohibited.

- How will the budget for the Corruption Investigation Office be secured?

▲Choo: I believe we will need to allocate reserve funds.

- How is the revision of enforcement ordinances following the adjustment of investigative authority being prepared?

▲Choo: The Ministry of Justice is operating a task force. We are running three teams: one for planning, one for organizational restructuring, and one for preparing legislation, to ensure that there are no setbacks in follow-up legislation.

- Are there specific plans for the implementation of the local police system and the National Investigation Headquarters?

▲Jin: The Integrated Police Act must pass the National Assembly before it can be formally pursued. It is currently under review by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's subcommittee on bills. If the Integrated Police Act is passed, it is set to take effect six months later. We are preparing everything on the assumption that it will pass, but even if there is a delay, we cannot just wait, so I believe we need to prepare internally as well.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.