Park Hong-geun: "Democratic Party to Accept Speaker's Mediation Proposal on 'Prosecutorial Reform'" (Update)

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending a closed-door members' meeting at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Democratic Party of Korea announced on the 22nd that it will accept the mediation proposal on the 'Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights' (검수완박) bill presented by National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok. Earlier, the People Power Party also expressed its intention to accept the mediation proposal, raising hopes that the extreme confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties may find a breakthrough.

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said to reporters after a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the same day, "The Democratic Party held a party meeting and decided to accept the mediation proposal presented by the Speaker."

Park said, "The Democratic Party strongly insisted on the principle that the prosecution's excessive concentration of power, which has caused violations of fundamental rights, must be corrected by separating the prosecution's right to indict and investigate this time, and we requested this in the Speaker's mediation proposal as well. We decided to handle it in April without delay, and we have repeatedly emphasized three major aspects for the establishment of a Korean-style national anti-corruption investigation capability." He added, "I believe these three aspects are basically reflected in the mediation proposal."

He explained, "Among the six major crimes that the prosecution can currently investigate, four will be abolished within four months after this law passes," and "the remaining two major crimes will also be abolished within one year and six months, following the enactment of the FBI law, preparation, and establishment."

Regarding the decision by the People Power Party and the Democratic Party to follow the mediation proposal, Park said, "The agenda adjustment committee will be withdrawn, and the mediation proposal will be reviewed in the bill subcommittee, then go through the plenary session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and finally be processed in the plenary session." He added, "The plenary session is expected to be held next week, and after the law is passed, it will be finally sent to the Cabinet meeting on the 3rd of next month for promulgation."

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