Prosecutors 15 and Police 9 Receive Gold Badges... Eyes on Prosecution Reform

‘Judicial Scandal Whistleblower’ Itanhee and Others Enter National Assembly
Many Police Officers Belong to United Party
Focus on Roles in Corruption Investigation Office and Investigation Authority Adjustment

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Following the Democratic Party of Korea's historic landslide victory in the April 15 general election, prosecutorial reforms such as the establishment of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HOCI) and the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police are expected to accelerate. Immediately, Kim Yong-min, a newly elected Democratic Party member of the National Assembly from Namyangju-byeong, Gyeonggi Province, who served as a member of the Prosecutorial Reform Committee during Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's tenure, asserted that "the Ministry of Justice should conduct inspections" regarding allegations of collusion between the prosecution and the media.

On the 17th, during an MBC radio broadcast, when the host asked about suspicions of collusion between a Channel A reporter and Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon, Kim stated, "The Ministry of Justice still holds direct inspection authority," adding, "When disputes arise over inspection authority within the prosecution, it is appropriate for the Ministry of Justice to conduct direct inspections."

In the 21st National Assembly, there are a total of 46 members with legal backgrounds, including 15 from the prosecution and 9 from the police. With a large number of former prosecutors and police officers entering Yeouido, attention is focused on their roles. The Democratic Party produced the most elected members with legal backgrounds. Representative among them is Lee Soo-jin, a newly elected National Assembly member from Dongjak-eul, Seoul (31st class). Lee has claimed to be a victim of judicial administrative power abuse during Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae's tenure.

Lee Tan-hee, a newly elected National Assembly member from Yongin-si Jeong, Gyeonggi Province (34th class), is known for exposing judicial corruption allegations such as judicial surveillance and the judiciary blacklist under Chief Justice Yang's administration in 2017. Choi Ki-sang (25th class) won in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, securing a seat. Choi is a member of the progressive judges' group within the court, Uri Law Research Association, and has strongly criticized the judicial corruption allegations.

From the United Future Party, former chief prosecutor Kim Woong (29th class), who resigned in protest against the bill adjusting investigative authority between the prosecution and police, was elected in Songpa-gu Gap, Seoul. Yoo Sang-beom (21st class), former chief prosecutor of Changwon District Prosecutors' Office, won in Hongcheon, Hoengseong, Yeongwol, and Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. Additionally, Hong Joon-pyo (14th class) and Kwon Seong-dong (17th class), who left the United Future Party and ran as independents, survived. There were more police officers in the United Future Party than in the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party saw the entry of Im Ho-seon, former deputy commissioner of the National Police Agency, and Hwang Un-ha, former chief of the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency, into the National Assembly.

In the United Future Party, six former police chiefs were elected: Kim Yong-pan (former chief of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency), Seo Beom-su (former chief of Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency), Yoon Jae-ok (former chief of Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency), Lee Man-hee (former chief of Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency), and Lee Cheol-gyu (former chief of Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency). Kwon Eun-hee, who ran as a proportional representative for the People's Party and is a former head of the investigation division at Seoul Suseo Police Station, also succeeded in her third term.

In the 21st National Assembly, there are a total of nine members with police backgrounds, the highest number ever. Previously, the numbers were five in the 16th Assembly, two in the 17th, one in the 18th, four in the 19th, and eight in the 20th. With the increase in police-background lawmakers, attention is focused on whether the police side will gain more influence in the process of adjusting investigative authority between the prosecution and police.

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