Korean Bar Association: "Stop Hasty Push for Mediation Plan on Complete Prosecution Reform, Seek Genuine Reform Measures"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Korean Bar Association opposed the 'Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights' (Geomsu Wanbak) mediation proposal, urging to "stop the hasty push and seek genuine reform measures for criminal justice power."

On the morning of the 25th, the Bar Association issued an emergency statement saying, "The mediation proposal did not improve any of the problems of the previously submitted Geomsu Wanbak bill."

Furthermore, the Bar Association pointed out, "This mediation proposal includes contradictory or seemingly regressive individual items, raising suspicions that it is a collusion to turn a blind eye to crimes affecting people's livelihoods while granting political circles extraterritoriality."

They also argued, "It is reasonable to maintain the prosecution's investigative rights over the six major important crimes as they are, but to introduce a grand jury system in the investigation and prosecution areas as a means of controlling prosecutorial power."

They also suggested, "Introducing a 'direct election system for chief prosecutors' and returning part of the investigative and prosecutorial powers of the power-institutionalized prosecution and police to citizens for civic control is the true control and reform measure for criminal justice power."

The Bar Association cited potential concealment of major crimes, confusion in case allocation due to a surge in cases, issues with systemic consistency with other laws, and insufficient control mechanisms over the police as problems of the Geomsu Wanbak agreement.

From the 28th, the Bar Association will hold a 'Lawyer and Citizen Filibuster for Prosecutorial Reform Legislation for the People' every day from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Bar Association Hall in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and will broadcast it live on YouTube.

The conservative lawyer group 'Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea' (Hanbyeon) also condemned the agreement between ruling and opposition parties on Geomsu Wanbak in a statement that day, calling it "a collusion among politicians who disregard the country, the people, social justice, fairness, and common sense by dismantling the constitutional order."

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