"Preserve Investigation Command Rights, Reduce Special Units"... Geum Tae-seop and Kim Yong-nam Propose Prosecution Reform Plan

Abolition of the Corruption Investigation Office, Additional Provisions on the Minister of Justice's Political Neutrality Duty
"Prosecutorial Reform Advocates Must Reflect Even in the Third Zone"

On the 22nd, Saeroun Seontaek and the Reform New Party announced a joint policy on prosecutorial reform. The two parties proposed a reform plan to abolish the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (Gongsoocheo), restore the prosecution's authority to direct investigations, reduce the size of the Special Investigation Division (Anti-Corruption Investigation Division), and legislate the political neutrality obligation of the Minister of Justice.

Geum Tae-seop, co-representative of Saeroun Seontaek and a former prosecutor, and Kim Yong-nam, policy committee chairman of the Reform New Party, presented prosecutorial reform measures at a press conference held at the National Assembly that day. They stated, "We will abolish Gongsoocheo." They pointed out, "Among the 8,000 subjects under investigation by Gongsoocheo, two-thirds are judges and prosecutors. To investigate them, a large number of personnel with the highest skills and experience are required, and such experienced personnel are in the prosecution. For Gongsoocheo to perform its role, personnel from the prosecution must be assigned, but in that case, it is merely creating another prosecution." After introducing Gongsoocheo's achievements over the past three years, they evaluated, "Gongsoocheo has failed" and "It was a waste of taxpayers' money."

In this regard, the two parties proposed a reform plan to impose a political neutrality obligation on the Minister of Justice and restore the prosecution's authority to direct investigations. They said, "The reason why the efficiency and quality of criminal investigations have declined since the adjustment of investigative authority between the police and prosecution is that the police are not legal experts," and added, "We will revise the relevant laws to restore the prosecutor's authority to direct investigations."

Kim Jin-wook, the Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency, is leaving the building after the farewell ceremony held at the Government Complex Gwacheon on the morning of the 19th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

They also promised to reduce the size of the Special Investigation Division (Anti-Corruption Investigation Division). The two parties said, "We will control the number and scope of duties of the Special Investigation Division by law," and added, "Having about three Special Investigation Divisions is sufficient." They continued, "Until the prosecution gains public trust regarding political neutrality through reform, the Special Investigation Division will inevitably be further reduced and controlled," emphasizing, "The prosecution is at its best not when conducting investigations like the police, but when fulfilling its role as legal experts."

Meanwhile, the two parties also raised the issue of responsibility among progressive forces such as the Democratic Party and the Justice Party regarding this prosecutorial reform. They said, "Three years of Gongsoocheo, two years of 'complete abolition of prosecution's investigative authority' (Geomsu Wanbak), prosecutorial reform has not advanced even a step," and added, "Those in the Democratic Party, those promoting the Progressive Coalition Proportional Representation Party, and those who led Gongsoocheo in the third zone must all humbly reflect on the results and embark on proper prosecutorial reform."

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