Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye: "The Essence of Complete Prosecution Reform is Checks and Balances"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, emphasized that the essence of the issue with the "Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights" (Geomsu Wanbak) bill is "checks and balances." He refuted concerns raised by prosecutors that the existing accumulated capabilities would be wasted if Geomsu Wanbak is implemented.

On the 22nd, while arriving at the Government Complex Gwacheon, Minister Park said, "Capability is not the fundamental issue in the Geomsu Wanbak matter," adding, "It is not something to be concluded as existing because it is the prosecution or because it is the police. It is not something the police should welcome either."

The day before, about 280 prosecutors' investigators from the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office jurisdiction gathered to discuss the Geomsu Wanbak issue. On that day, they issued a statement saying, "The approximately 6,300 prosecutors' investigators have contributed to discovering substantive truth by strengthening specialized investigative capabilities in various fields such as digital forensics, account tracing, and accounting analysis, based on investigative techniques accumulated over 70 years, as well as crime investigation, crime proceeds recovery, and sentence execution," emphasizing, "If Geomsu Wanbak is enacted, these specialized investigative capabilities will be wasted."

Regarding the proposal of a special fairness law by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Minister Park said, "It is a matter of sincerity. The question is why such discussions are only emerging now," adding, "It is meaningful that the Prosecutor General mentioned fairness as a prosecutorial reform measure, but internal control is missing. Opinions from ordinary prosecutors, chief prosecutors, and the six high prosecutors' office chiefs confirmed the day before must be gathered. I officially ask for that discussion to take place."

Furthermore, Minister Park spoke about how to convey opinions gathered within the prosecution to the National Assembly, saying, "Since both parties have party meetings, I cannot speak specifically," but added, "Looking ahead, there will be agenda adjustments in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, a plenary session, and a general assembly. There are many stages. It is inappropriate to say everything will be finished today or tomorrow, and now is precisely the time to reconsider things coolly."

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