National Assembly Ends Unlimited Debate After One Day... Completion of 3-Day Review of the Complete Criminal Code Reform Law Expected (Summary)

Criminal Procedure Act Amendment: 4 Lawmakers from Both Parties Engage in 7-Hour Unlimited Debate
Prosecutors' Office Act Amendment Passed in Plenary Session

Democratic Party lawmaker An Min-seok is conducting an unlimited debate (filibuster) in favor of the 'Prosecution Investigation and Indictment Separation' (검수완박) at the National Assembly plenary session on the 27th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Kwon Hyun-ji] On the 1st at midnight, the unlimited debate on the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which centers on reducing the prosecution's investigative authority, came to an end. The unlimited debate lasted for 7 hours with four lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties participating.

On that day’s plenary session, the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, a key pillar of the ruling Democratic Party’s push for ‘Geomsu Wanbak’ (complete removal of prosecution’s investigative authority), was submitted. In response, the People Power Party requested an unlimited debate. However, as the temporary session was shortened to just one day on the 30th, the unlimited debate also ended at midnight that day.

During the unlimited debate, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the Democratic Party’s prosecution reform objectives. The first debater, Kim Hyung-dong of the People Power Party, expressed opposition. He criticized, "This is a rushed legislation to shield the senior advisor who has many crimes such as former President Moon Jae-in and the Daejang-dong preferential treatment allegations after retirement." He continued his debate for about 2 hours and 40 minutes.

The proponent debater, Choi Ki-sang, spoke for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, stating, "Separating the prosecution’s investigative and prosecutorial powers will be a monumental event that allows our people to live in freer air."

Following him, Kim Mi-ae of the People Power Party criticized, saying, "The last sentence is something I absolutely cannot understand," and added, "It is unacceptable and no one has explained why complainants are excluded from appealing decisions of non-prosecution made by judicial police officers." Kim also claimed that People Power Party floor leader Kwon Seong-dong’s agreement to Speaker Park Byeong-seok’s mediation proposal was "made under duress." She said the agreement was reached to at least guarantee supplementary investigative authority to prevent the collapse of the criminal justice system.

Next, Lim Ho-seon of the Democratic Party raised an objection to the breakdown of the ruling-opposition agreement during the unlimited debate. Lim said, "Power corrupts when monopolized," and "Mutual checks and balances are fundamental to robustly guarantee the people’s freedom." However, Lim’s remarks ended as the temporary session expired.

Earlier in the plenary session, the amendment to the Prosecutors’ Office Act, which reduces the scope of the prosecution’s direct investigative authority from the existing six major crimes to two major crimes including corruption and economic crimes, was passed. The bill was approved with 172 votes in favor, 3 against, and 2 abstentions out of 177 attendees including members of the Democratic Party, Justice Party, and independents. People Power Party lawmakers strongly opposed and boycotted the vote.

This law had already undergone an unlimited debate on the 27th of the temporary session, so the voting procedure was immediately carried out.

The amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act did not go to a vote during the unlimited debate that day, but it is expected to pass as a vote will be held immediately after the plenary session convenes on the 3rd.

Meanwhile, before the plenary session that day, a physical clash occurred at the National Assembly during the People Power Party lawmakers’ demands for a meeting with Speaker Park Byeong-seok. People Power Party lawmakers held placards reading ‘Geomsu Wanbak Hurts the Common People and the Weak’ and shouted slogans such as "Oppose Geomsu Wanbak, which attempts to cover up power corruption."

When People Power Party lawmakers surrounded the Speaker’s office, Speaker Park entered the National Assembly plenary hall with the help of his office staff. It was reported that some People Power Party lawmakers were injured during this process.

After the passage of the Prosecutors’ Office Act and the scheduling of the temporary session for just one day, effectively nullifying the unlimited debate, People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin and others criticized Speaker Park as speakers. Lawmaker Bae demanded Speaker Park’s resignation, saying, "Is this the democracy you talk about?" while omitting even the customary greeting to the Speaker. Some criticized Bae for allegedly pointing a finger at the Speaker, but Bae refuted this on social media by saying she showed five fingers. She explained, "Who said I pointed a finger? I asked the Speaker about the essence of democracy he has ignored by neatly gathering five fingers I raised."

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