Transition Team "Respect Acceptance of In-House 'Geomsuwanbak' Mediation Proposal"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Boo Aeri] The Presidential Transition Committee (Transition Committee) expressed respect on the 22nd for the ruling and opposition parties' acceptance of National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok's mediation proposal related to 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecutorial investigative authority).

Choi Jihyun, the Transition Committee's chief deputy spokesperson, stated at a regular briefing held at the Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon, "The official position of the Transition Committee is to respect the fact that the mediation proposal was accepted within the National Assembly."

Earlier, Speaker Park delivered a mediation proposal on 'Geomsu Wanbak' to both parties in the morning, which focused on separating the prosecution's direct investigative authority and prosecutorial power while temporarily maintaining the prosecution's direct investigative authority. The floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties accepted this proposal.

The mediation proposal included removing public official crimes, election crimes, defense industry crimes, and major disaster crimes from the prosecution's existing six major crime investigations. It also stated that the prosecution's direct investigative authority would be abolished once other investigative agencies reach a certain level of crime response capability. Additionally, to reduce the total volume of the prosecution's direct investigations, the six special divisions would be reduced to three, and a judicial reform special committee would be formed with the authority to review bills to intensively discuss the establishment of a so-called 'Serious Crime Investigation Agency' (Korean-style FBI). Crimes committed by officials of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (Gongsoocheo) would be included in the prosecution's duties. The proposal also suggested that such prosecutorial reform legislation be processed within April and implemented four months after promulgation.

When asked if this was the position of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, Chief Deputy Spokesperson Choi added, "We have not heard separately from the President-elect, but we received the position of the relevant subcommittee (Political, Judicial, and Administrative Affairs Subcommittee)."

Meanwhile, the Transition Committee stated regarding the exchange of letters between the South and North Korean leaders on the same day, "Achieving peace and prosperity through denuclearization is the great cause of the nation."

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