Choo Mi Ae Reiterates "Police Should Investigate, Prosecutors Should Indict" at CIO Public Hearing

On the afternoon of the 25th at 2 PM, before the public hearing on "The Establishment Direction of the Corruption Investigation Office for Advanced Investigation Organization" held at the International Conference Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul, Minister of Justice Choo Mi Ae is taking a commemorative photo with Nam Ki Myung, Head of the Corruption Investigation Office Establishment Preparation Team, and Lee Chan Hee, President of the Korean Bar Association, among others. Photo by Choi Seok Jin

[Asia Economy, Choi Seok Jin] At a public hearing convened to discuss the direction of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which is scheduled to launch in July, Minister of Justice Choo Mi Ae once again raised the issue of separating the powers of investigation and indictment for prosecutors.

Delivering congratulatory remarks at the public hearing on "Directions for Establishing the Corruption Investigation Office to Launch as an Advanced Investigation Agency," held at 2 PM on the 25th at the International Conference Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul, Minister Choo pointed out, "Looking back at the prosecution's investigations, I cannot help but reflect on whether the prosecution exercised its authority in accordance with the principle of 'breaking evil and revealing justice' (破邪顯正)."

She added, "When I said that it would be better to separate investigation and indictment, there was an uproar," and continued, "There were attempts to frame it as if I was trying to neutralize a righteous prosecution and protect the administration."

She went on to say, "In 1954, a full 67 years ago, the Criminal Procedure Act was established. At that time, the members of the legal code publication committee concluded, after observing advanced judicial systems, that 'investigations should be handled by the police, indictments by prosecutors as legal professionals, and the courts should determine guilt or innocence, thereby establishing justice and uncovering substantive truth through checks and balances.' They also stated, 'Although it would be right for us to have police and prosecutors separately handle investigation and indictment, since we cannot implement this immediately, we will leave the issue of separating investigation and indictment to the future and, for now, entrust both investigation and indictment to prosecutors.' I can recall this statement."

By doing so, she emphasized that the plan to separate investigation and indictment-which she had announced in February, stating, "We will review institutional reforms within the prosecution to assign different entities to investigation and indictment decisions"-is an advanced judicial system.

Minister Choo also urged, "I ask that the CIO serve as a model (典範, an exemplary standard) for adhering to criminal justice procedures in all investigations and criminal justice processes."

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