Discussion on the Location of the Investigation Agency... Prosecution Reform Becomes More Intense

Prosecution's Second Investigation Authority Also Restricted
Park Jumin "Legislation Completed by June"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] The ruling party, which is pushing to strip the prosecution of its primary investigative authority and transfer it to a separate agency, is expected to amend the law to also deprive the prosecution of its secondary investigative authority. This represents a stronger prosecution reform plan than previously known. Additionally, there is interest in whether the newly established 'Investigation Agency' that will receive the prosecution's investigative authority will be placed under the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, with the ruling party reportedly favoring placement under the Ministry of Justice.

Park Jumin, a member of the Prosecution Reform Special Committee, stated in an interview with MBC Radio's "Kim Jongbae's Focus" on the 16th that a revision bill to the Prosecution Office Act reflecting these contents will be proposed in February, aiming for legislative completion by June. The Democratic Party leadership received a report on the progress of the party's Prosecution Reform Special Committee at a closed executive meeting the previous day. The committee is considering limiting not only the prosecution's primary investigative authority over six major crimes remaining with it but also its secondary investigative authority. Currently, if a party involved in a case raises objections to the investigation results, the prosecution can conduct a secondary investigation; maintaining this procedure would undermine the legal intent of a "complete separation of investigation and prosecution." Park said, "There are about five areas where secondary supplementary investigations can be conducted," adding, "If this authority is abused, it would effectively be almost the same as conducting the primary investigation, so we intend to restrict it."

Meanwhile, at the closed executive meeting report the previous day, there was also an opinion from the leadership to place the Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Justice. This is also a consensus opinion within the Prosecution Reform Special Committee. On the radio, Park drew a line by saying, "During the report, only one or two members expressed the opinion that it would be appropriate to place it under the Ministry of Justice," but a member of the committee told in a phone interview, "Many believe that if the Investigation Agency is newly established separately under the Ministry of Justice and its head is appointed independently, it would not cause problems because it could stand in opposition to the Prosecutor General." Regarding this, three options have been discussed: under the Ministry of Justice, under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, or jointly under both ministries.

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