Candidates for the Democratic Party of Korea presidential primary said on the 25th that a reform of the prosecution should be carried out by separating the investigation and indictment powers, leaving only the indictment authority. In the meantime, the Democratic Party has hinted at prosecutorial reform, alleging that the prosecution has engaged in 'fabricated indictments' for political repression over various criminal allegations against candidate Lee Jae-myung, including violations of election law, instigation of perjury, corruption in the development of Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong, and suspicions of remittances to North Korea.
Candidate Lee Jae-myung stated during the Democratic Party of Korea presidential primary debate hosted by TV Chosun that, "I've lived as a lawyer for decades, but I have never seen such a prosecution," and added, "The prosecution sets targets for investigation in order to indict." He further noted, "The prosecution fabricates evidence and creates new cases," and insisted that "the system allowing the prosecution to possess both investigative and indictment rights must end so that they can no longer conduct investigations with the purpose of indictment."
Candidate Kim Kyeong-soo mentioned the recent indictment of former President Moon Jae-in on bribery charges, stating, "It was an action sufficient to express public outrage that we can no longer entrust investigative powers to the prosecution," and added, "When former President Yoon Seok-yeol was released, he immediately withdrew his appeal, and before that, individuals from the previous administration, including candidate Lee Jae-myung, whom I know, were almost all subjected to searches and seizures."
He emphasized, "We must completely dismantle the investigative prosecution and political prosecution by separating the investigative and indictment powers," and stated, "I believe a thorough reform of the prosecution that only retains the indictment authority is necessary."
Candidate Kim Dong-yeon said, "I too have announced a pledge for prosecutorial reform with the same intention," and stated, "It involved turning the prosecution office into an indictment office, and furthermore discussing reforms of the serious crime investigation unit and software reforms for prosecutors, which all three of us agree on."