Jeong Seongho: "Will Draft Criminal Procedure Act Amendment While Examining Issues with Supplementary Investigations"

"We Need to Deliberate on Which System Is Best for the People"

On the 12th, at the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Justice Minister Sung-ho Jung is responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yonhap News

Minister of Justice Jeong Seongho stated regarding prosecution reform, "We need to deliberate on which system is best for the people."

On January 14, speaking to reporters on his way to work at the Ministry of Justice in the Government Complex Gwacheon, Minister Jeong said, "President Lee Jaemyung is convinced that the prosecution must be reborn as an institution that faithfully fulfills its original duty of protecting the safety of the people," and added, "The government's bill was also proposed after extensive deliberation, but since there may be shortcomings, I hope the National Assembly will discuss it calmly."

Regarding criticism from the ruling party over whether to retain the supplementary investigation authority of prosecutors in the Public Prosecution Office, he said, "The current issue is not about supplementary investigations, but about preparations for launching the organizations of the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Office," and added, "As for the supplementary investigation issue, we will take time to examine any problems and then draft an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act."

He continued, "Since the launch of the Lee Jaemyung administration, the prosecution has already implemented the separation of investigation and indictment," and added, "By restricting independent investigations and eliminating the involvement of investigative prosecutors in trials, the prosecution has been faithfully performing its original work in line with the government's policy direction."

The Prosecution Reform Promotion Team under the Prime Minister's Office announced a legislative notice on January 12 for a bill to abolish the Prosecution Service and establish the Serious Crimes Investigation Office and the Public Prosecution Office.

The Serious Crimes Investigation Office plans to divide investigative personnel into investigative judicial officers with attorney qualifications and professional investigators responsible for practical work. However, the decision on whether to retain the supplementary investigation authority of the Public Prosecution Office has been put on hold.