Park Chan-dae Vows to Enact Prosecution Past Affairs Committee Act, Hold Prosecutors Accountable for Unjust Investigations and Indictments

Following the Dismantling of the Prosecution Service and Separation of Investigation and Indictment Powers, Strong Push for Prosecution Reform
Indictments to Be Canceled in Cases Confirmed as Fabrication or Abuse of Prosecutorial Power

Park Chan-dae, a lawmaker running for party leader in the August 2 Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) National Convention, stated on July 24, "If a thorough investigation by the Prosecution Past Affairs Committee reveals that there were unjust investigations or indictments, all those responsible?including the prosecutors in charge?will be strictly held accountable in accordance with the law and principles, through disciplinary action, impeachment, or even criminal investigation." He also pledged to cancel indictments in cases where fabrication or abuse of prosecutorial power is confirmed, promising to provide full relief to the victims.

At a press conference held at the National Assembly's Communication Center that morning, Park said, "True prosecution reform must begin by correcting the wrongs of the past," and announced his intention to enact the Prosecution Past Affairs Committee Act.

Regarding the investigation into President Lee Jaemyung, Park asserted, "Under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, politically motivated investigations and excessive indictments by the prosecution were acts of violence that destroyed justice and democracy. The victims were the Korean people and democracy itself. President Lee was also a victim."

He continued, "The prosecution conducted over 400 raids targeting President Lee. Yet, when they failed to find evidence, they distorted what they had and proceeded with excessive indictments based on tainted testimonies. During the presidential election, they even summoned him to court five times a week through so-called 'split indictments.' This destroyed not only his political activities but also his daily life. It was not just an attack on Lee Jaemyung as an individual, but a deliberate abuse against a political opponent and, further, against democracy itself."

Park also promised to eliminate the statute of limitations for cases involving prosecutorial fabrication, and to pass a bill abolishing the statute of limitations for state violence and anti-human rights crimes?a bill previously vetoed by former President Yoon.

Along with his previously announced pledges to separate investigation and indictment powers and to dismantle the Prosecution Service, Park plans to simultaneously push for the Prosecution Past Affairs Committee Act. Park emphasized, "The dismantling of the Prosecution Service, which has already become a fait accompli, is a reform that sets the future right, but reform to punish past wrongdoings and provide relief to victims is also essential." He added, "The state's responsibility for victims of political prosecution will now be proven not just in words but through institutional measures. We will not hesitate to pursue a parliamentary investigation or a special prosecutor if necessary."

Yonhap News

By announcing plans to enact the Prosecution Past Affairs Committee Act following the abolition of the Prosecution Service and the separation of investigation and indictment powers, Park appears to be aiming to secure the support of Democratic Party members.

When a reporter asked after the press conference whether he believes President Lee's case should also be subject to indictment cancellation, Park replied, "I cannot say definitively, but in cases where political prosecutors fabricated cases or manipulated testimonies in order to achieve political objectives through unjust investigations, those indictments can be canceled without exception. If it is confirmed that the investigation into President Lee was politically fabricated, that part can also be canceled without exception." However, he clarified, "That is not the sole purpose of this policy."

When asked by a reporter to cite other cases of unjust investigations or indictments besides President Lee's, Park said, "In the past, in the case of the fabricated spy case involving a civil servant, the defendant was later acquitted. Through retaliatory indictments, we achieved the first-ever impeachment of a prosecutor, but the judiciary said, 'It is clear a crime was committed, but it does not warrant dismissal.' We need to look into it further, but in the trial of Kim Yong, former deputy director of the Institute for Democracy, there were also several pieces of evidence that were not admitted. Therefore, we will establish disciplinary procedures for judicial distortion and investigate such acts so that judges and prosecutors who committed them can be disciplined."

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