Park Jumin "Prosecutor General of the Corruption Investigation Office to be Decided Around Late December... Operation to Start Late January or Mid-February Next Year"

Park Jumin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending and speaking at the forum on corporate governance improvement and the direction of the Commercial Act amendment held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) is expected to be fully operational around the end of January or mid-February next year. The Democratic Party of Korea plans to operate the recommendation committee by appointing recommendation members from groups such as the Association of Law Professors if the People Power Party does not cooperate in deciding the HCIC chief, including withdrawing their recommendation members.

Park Jumin, a member of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the Democratic Party, appeared on KBS Radio on the morning of the 11th and, when asked, “When do you expect the HCIC to officially launch?” said, “Even if the procedures proceed very quickly, the HCIC chief will likely be decided around the end of December,” adding, “Since the HCIC can only be operational after completing the necessary procedures, it seems it will be operational around the end of January or mid-February next year.”

Regarding the subsequent procedures, Park explained, “The bill must be sent to the government, then go through approval and be promulgated before it can be enforced,” adding, “The Cabinet meeting is next Tuesday. It takes about 10 days to see whether the members recommended by the opposition party will be mutually agreed upon or if replacements will come in. After that, a meeting is held to recommend two members, from whom one is appointed, followed by a confirmation hearing.”

On the possibility that the People Power Party’s recommendation members might not participate in the HCIC chief recommendation process, he said, “If two vacancies arise due to resignations, the Speaker of the National Assembly will ask the party that originally recommended them to submit new recommendations,” adding, “If 10 days pass without recommendations, substitute members can be appointed. The committee will then be operated with people recommended by groups such as the Association of Law Professors.”

Regarding the opposition’s criticism that five out of seven recommendation members are ruling party figures since the Democratic Party decided to maintain the existing recommendation members, Park emphasized, “People like the president of the Korean Bar Association cannot be considered ruling party figures. Especially, the Bar Association president recently criticized Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae’s suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon. Including the two members recommended by the opposition, the head of the Court Administration and the Bar Association president, the majority are actually not ruling party figures.”

Meanwhile, on speculation that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl will be the first investigation target after the HCIC’s launch, Park dismissed it, saying, “The HCIC chief will decide the investigation targets and the crimes subject to investigation,” adding, “It is unnecessary to discuss who will be the first target now.”

Regarding the disciplinary committee’s outlook on Prosecutor General Yoon, he said, “I think a disciplinary action of at least suspension or higher will be issued. If suspension is decided, it will proceed as suspension.” He continued, “Since Prosecutor General Yoon has filed a constitutional lawsuit against the Prosecutor Disciplinary Act, even if the disciplinary committee makes a decision, it will likely lead to litigation,” adding, “In that case, the court will need to make a prompt judgment.”

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