First Prosecutor-Police Meeting in 19 Years: "The Crime Prevention Act Has Become a Crime Neglect Act"

10-Hour All-Night Debate... "Prosecutors Blindfolded and Bound, Crime Rampant"
Exploring Measures for 'External Control Devices' and Regularization of 'Representative Meetings of Ordinary Prosecutors' in Investigation Process Participation

On the 20th, prosecutors at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, are announcing the results of the National Prosecutors' Representatives Meeting held to respond to the legislation of 'Geomsu Wanbak' (Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights). Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The 207 representatives of prosecutors nationwide, who held a nationwide meeting for the first time in 19 years, stated on the 20th that the Democratic Party's proposed legislation on the 'Geomsu Wanbak (Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Authority)' bill "blindfolds prosecutors and ties their hands and feet, creating a country where crimes are rampant but criminals do not exist," adding, "It ultimately blocks powerless citizens from seeking their own rights, turning into a 'crime neglect law' that grants impunity to criminals and only increases suffering for victims."

The nationwide representatives' meeting of prosecutors, which gathered the largest number of participants in history, held a heated discussion from 7 p.m. the previous day until 5 a.m. the next day, lasting 10 hours, and released a statement with these contents.

The prosecutors explained, "We, the prosecutors, are fully aware of the public's criticism of the prosecution," and "The reason we are discussing the 'Geomsu Wanbak' bill is due to our urgent concern that it may become difficult to protect the public from most everyday crimes and large-scale economic crimes."

They pointed out, "(The Geomsu Wanbak bill proposed by the Democratic Party) makes it impossible for prosecutors to even verify basic facts, producing unjust victims, and even when victims want to appeal for the prosecutor's judgment, it removes the procedures that allow prosecutors to provide relief," adding, "It also eliminates opportunities to correct errors that may occur during detention and to rectify mistakes in search and seizure processes, which involve significant human rights violations."

The prosecutors said they would consider measures such as ▲ external control devices that allow citizens to participate in the investigation process of serious crimes and ▲ internal checks like the 'Prosecutors' Representatives Meeting,' where representatives regularly discuss matters, to ensure fairness and neutrality in investigations.

Kim Jin-hyuk, a prosecutor at Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office who briefed on the meeting results, said, "It could serve as a device to monitor the initiation, progress, and conclusion of investigations, and there may also be a direction to legislate and strengthen the Investigation Deliberation Committee," adding, "Prosecutors will actively participate in discussions to enhance public oversight."

He continued, "At the meeting, we confirmed our intention to regularize and legislate the Prosecutors' Meeting for ongoing activities," and explained, "The National Judges' Representatives Meeting could serve as a model."

Meanwhile, opposition to the Geomsu Wanbak bill is spreading throughout the prosecution organization. From 7 p.m. on the same day, the 'National Chief Prosecutors' Representatives Meeting' will be held in the large auditorium on the 2nd floor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. About 50 representatives from various offices, including senior chiefs from the 31st to 32nd Judicial Research and Training Institute classes, are expected to attend. It is known that each office will send at least one and up to eight representatives.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has also launched a task force (TF) to prepare countermeasures. Centered on the Public Trial and Litigation Department, the TF is reviewing the constitutionality of the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act and the Prosecutors' Office Act proposed by the Democratic Party. It is reported that they are discussing constitutional litigation measures in case the Geomsu Wanbak bill passes the National Assembly plenary session.

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