Prime Minister Kim Minseok Signals Need for Sufficient Coordination on Prosecution Reform, Hints at Adjusted Pace

Prime Minister Kim Minseok stated on the 19th regarding the prosecution reform bill, "It would be better to allow sufficient time for coordination among the government, the ruling party, and other political parties." This is interpreted as suggesting a more measured approach, in response to the ruling Democratic Party's calls to pass the related legislation before Chuseok.

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During a press conference at the Seoul Government Complex that day, Prime Minister Kim responded to related questions by saying, "For such an important matter, it is best to proceed thoroughly so that the public does not perceive it as being rushed or poorly handled." He continued, "There will be debates during the legislative process in the National Assembly, and if necessary, public hearings could also be held. It is essential to ensure that such discussions take place sufficiently, centered around the National Assembly." This reiterates the same context as President Lee Jaemyung's directive the previous day to ensure "adequate public discussion on sensitive and contentious issues."

However, Prime Minister Kim emphasized, "The need for prosecution reform, the many problems of politically motivated prosecutors in the past, and the general direction that indictment and investigation should be separated have already been established," adding, "This will proceed without wavering."

When asked about a coordinated legislative schedule with the government, in relation to Democratic Party leader Jung Cheongrae's campaign pledge to "complete prosecution, media, and judicial reforms before Chuseok," Kim said, "It is good to set a target and move toward it." However, he added, "If, during the process of addressing key issues such as the separation of investigation and indictment-which is what the public is most interested in-there are aspects that require closer examination for more precise implementation, then adjustments can certainly be made." He went on to say, "I understand that the party's stated principle is to at least complete the prosecution reform by Chuseok, in response to the demands of the public."

Nonetheless, Prime Minister Kim also noted, "Once the core issues are sorted out and the remaining issues are resolved in tandem, the process could accelerate toward final practical completion. The President's call for 'sufficient discussion' should not necessarily be interpreted as a reason to delay the timeline. There is still time," he said, expressing a cautious stance.

Meanwhile, several bills related to prosecution reform have been introduced by the ruling party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly. The leading proposal is to abolish the Prosecutors' Office and establish a Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA), transferring investigative authority. In addition, a bill has been proposed to create a National Investigation Commission under the Prime Minister's Office to coordinate and prevent conflicts over investigative authority.

However, regarding the proposal to establish the National Investigation Commission under the Prime Minister's Office, Kim, speaking in a personal capacity, said, "I fully understand the intent, but I am not yet convinced that it can actually function effectively as a commission system." He added, "Where to place the SCIA-whether under the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of the Interior and Safety-is also an interconnected issue," expressing his concerns.

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