Prosecutor General's Office Opposes Bill to Completely Abolish Prosecution Investigations... Severe Chaos Expected

"Public Inconvenience Worsens, Response to Serious Crimes Weakens... No Precedent in Advanced Legislation"
Independent Yang Hyang-ja, Formerly of the Democratic Party, Assigned to the Legislation Committee... Moves to Push Forward Bill Persist

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The prosecution has officially expressed opposition to the so-called ‘Geomsu Wanbak (Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Authority)’ bill being promoted by the Democratic Party of Korea.

On the 8th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office sent a text message titled ‘Supreme Prosecutors' Office Position on the Bill to Completely Abolish Prosecutorial Investigation Functions’ to the press corps, stating, "We oppose the political sphere’s push for a bill to completely abolish the prosecution’s investigative functions."

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office emphasized, "The currently enforced amended criminal law was legislated after a lengthy process of one year and three months of discussions and undergoing the fast-track procedure. However, even after one year of enforcement, various issues have been identified, and it is urgent now to resolve these and stabilize the system."

It continued, "Preventing prosecutors from directly verifying facts would abruptly change the criminal justice procedures that have been in place for over 70 years, causing severe confusion. It would also increase public inconvenience and weaken the nation’s capacity to respond to serious crimes, a precedent unseen in advanced legal systems."

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office explained that Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo deeply empathizes with the prosecution members’ awareness of the issues and their earnest concerns, and is taking the current situation very seriously.

It appealed, "We earnestly request the political sphere to reconsider once more and make the right decision regarding the bill to completely abolish prosecutorial investigative functions, which would make things harder and more difficult for the public."

The previous day, National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok transferred independent lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, formerly of the Democratic Party, to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. This was a swap with Democratic Party lawmaker Park Seong-jun, who was moved to the Strategy and Finance Committee. The Legislation and Judiciary Committee has 18 members: 11 from the Democratic Party, 6 from the People Power Party, and 1 from a non-negotiating group. However, after the merger of the Democratic Party and the Open Democratic Party in January, lawmaker Choi Kang-wook changed affiliation to the Democratic Party, altering the composition to 12 Democratic Party members and 6 People Power Party members.

Following this, voices of dissent began to surge within the prosecution from the morning of the same day. Kwon Sang-dae, Director of Policy Planning at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (age 46, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 32), said, "Geomsu Wanbak is a bill that shakes the foundation of the criminal justice system. I want to ask whether this bill and its deliberation process are truly permissible under our Constitution and National Assembly Act, whether it helps protect our families safely from crime, and whether it brings us closer to a society where common sense and conscience are respected."

A chief prosecutor of the Criminal Division 2 at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (age 50, class 32) criticized the prosecution leadership, saying, "There was a time when we were mocked with ‘Why are you going so slowly?’ but now, as the wind blows as a headwind, it is shameful to be led by seniors who disappear like turtles withdrawing their necks into their shells or ostriches burying their heads in the sand."

The Daegu District Prosecutors' Office held a non-face-to-face Zoom meeting chaired by Daegu District Prosecutor General Kim Hu-gon to discuss the matter. The prosecution plans to hold a nationwide meeting of high prosecutors at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office at 5 p.m. that day to discuss response measures.

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