The 검수완박 Law Passes the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Only Plenary Session Approval Remains

by Na Juseok

Published 27 Apr.2022 07:42(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The "Complete Removal of Prosecution's Investigation Rights" (검수완박) bill passed the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session on the 27th.

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee approved the alternative amendment to the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act at 12:11 a.m. that day. The amendment primarily aims to restrict the prosecution's direct investigation powers, ultimately separating investigation and prosecution.

The amendment passed by a standing vote of the Democratic Party members amid opposition from the People Power Party members. With the 검수완박 bill passing the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, only the final hurdle?the plenary session?remains. The Democratic Party plans to handle it in the plenary session so that it can be submitted to the Cabinet meeting on the 3rd of next month. The People Power Party intends to resort to unlimited debate (filibuster) and other measures. Therefore, clashes between the ruling and opposition parties are expected to be inevitable in the plenary session as well.

The Democratic Party, having revised the bill based on Speaker Park Byeong-seok's mediation proposal, plans to convene and pass the plenary session as early as that day.

Originally, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee met the previous day, but it was adjourned due to the People Power Party's demand to form a subcommittee for agenda adjustment. However, the agenda adjustment subcommittee ended after only 1 hour and 50 minutes. This was because independent lawmaker Min Hyeong-bae, who left the Democratic Party, could participate as a member of the opposition's agenda adjustment subcommittee. In the Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session, controversy arose over the fact that the contents agreed upon in the agenda adjustment subcommittee were not reflected and issues related to schedule changes for the session.

The parts coordinated in the agenda adjustment subcommittee are expected to be reflected later in the plenary session in the form of amendments.

The amendment limits the scope of direct investigations by the prosecution to corruption and economic crimes but leaves the investigation rights for election crimes until the end of the year. This is to dispel controversy over restricting investigation rights ahead of this year's local elections. This limitation was also proposed by the Justice Party.