Kim Young-sun 'Leads Bill to Restore Prosecutorial Investigation Rights Before Complete Criminal Investigation Reform'

Preventing Recurrence of Major Disasters like Itaewon

Kim Young-sun, member of the People Power Party.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Song Jong-gu] Amid an unprecedented situation where some senior police officials have been booked on charges of ‘negligent homicide and injury’ related to the Itaewon disaster, a bill has been proposed to allow the prosecution to investigate large-scale disasters.

On the 7th, Congressman Kim Young-sun introduced the ‘Prosecutors' Office Act’ to partially restore the prosecution’s investigative authority to the pre-Keomsu Wanbak (complete removal of prosecution’s investigative authority) level, aiming to prevent the recurrence of large-scale disasters.

Congressman Kim stated, “Due to the Democratic Party’s Keomsu Wanbak, the prosecution can currently only investigate corruption and economic crimes among the six major crimes, and there have been ongoing calls for urgent measures to prepare for large-scale disasters. In the recent Itaewon disaster case, the prosecution was unable to investigate the large-scale disaster, and there is a strong voice emphasizing the necessity of the prosecution’s investigative authority over large-scale disasters to prepare countermeasures for future prevention.”

He explained the reason for the bill’s proposal, saying, “Among the investigative authorities stripped by the Democratic Party, the prosecution’s authority over large-scale disasters should be reinstated so that the prosecution can investigate large-scale disasters like the Itaewon disaster.”

This amendment includes provisions allowing the prosecution to have investigative authority over large-scale disasters, which were among the crime cases abolished by the previous Keomsu Wanbak, enabling them to take measures and prepare countermeasures.

If the ‘Prosecutors' Office Act’ proposed by Congressman Kim passes, the prosecution will have investigative authority over large-scale disasters and be able to conduct direct investigations, restoring the promptness of initial investigations and enabling professional on-site investigations, which is expected to greatly aid in preparing future countermeasures.

Congressman Kim said, “Despite the infringement on the lives of the people caused by Keomsu Wanbak, no measures have been prepared. Through this amendment to the ‘Prosecutors' Office Act’ to regain the prosecution’s investigative authority, I will do my best to create a society where the lives and property of the people and public safety are guaranteed.”

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