Democratic Party "Limits to Prosecutors' Self-Reform"... Ministry of Justice Vice Minister "Difficult to Stop Prosecutors' Investigations"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] The Special Committee on Prosecution Reform of the Democratic Party of Korea raised its voice in criticism on the 12th, stating that "the prosecution has shown the limits of self-reform." In response, Lee Yong-gu, Vice Minister of Justice, expressed difficulties, saying, "It is not easy to tell people who have come to investigate not to do so."

The special committee held its 4th meeting at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the same day and pointed out that despite the adjustment of investigative authority between the police and prosecution implemented this year, the prosecution has not accepted the reform plan and is still operating centered on investigative authority, stating, "It can be evaluated that it has shown the limits of self-reform in practice."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yoon Ho-jung, chairman of the special committee, criticized, "The Ministry of Justice and the prosecution announced a total of 39 recommendations. However, the prosecution did not properly accept the core contents of the reform committee," and added, "Regarding the investigative authority between the police and prosecution, although the prosecution's direct investigative authority is expected to be significantly reduced following the enforcement of the presidential decree, the prosecution was not prepared."

Kim Yong-min said, "As seen in the recent Lime case, the prohibition of direct investigation through organizational restructuring does not seem to have worked properly," and pointed out, "In the Lime case, some investigations proceeded without being reported to the head of the Anti-Corruption Department, contrary to the internal regulations of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office."

Hwang Un-ha also stated, "The Criminal Division 5 of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, which investigated the nuclear phase-out case, was previously the Public Investigation Division. They just changed the name, but the work is the same," and argued, "To reduce direct investigations, it is insufficient to simply prevent cognizable cases. It must be clearly defined to handle only referred cases."

However, Vice Minister Lee, who attended the meeting, expressed practical difficulties, saying, "Fundamentally, there are many concerns such as the method of newly recruiting prosecutors and internal issues due to the separation of investigation and prosecution." He emphasized, "Currently, prosecutors are people who have come to investigate. They have not come for judicial control. If the system suddenly changes one day, you cannot tell people who think investigation is the identity of the prosecution not to investigate. A transition suitable for that is necessary."

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