The Democratic Party of Korea signaled the launch of a Criminal Procedure Act revision task force (TF) and the convening of an extra National Assembly session in July. The plan is to speed up prosecutorial reform centered on abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority, while at the same time pushing forward with livelihood legislation for the latter half of the 22nd National Assembly.
Floor leader Han Byeong-do of the Democratic Party of Korea said at a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 2nd, "We will convene an extra session in July," adding, "We will focus the party's efforts on completing state tasks and achieving a great leap forward for the Republic of Korea."
Addressing the People Power Party, he said, "If you refuse to open an extra session and dig in your heels, the price will ultimately be paid in the form of hardship for people's livelihoods."
With the launch of the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Office slated for October in mind, the Democratic Party is also accelerating work to revise the Criminal Procedure Act. Han, the floor leader, said, "We will press ahead to complete prosecutorial reform," adding, "To that end, we will launch a Criminal Procedure Act revision TF centered on the floor leadership, the policy committee, and The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee to begin practical discussions."
Han stressed, "Through the TF, we will swiftly devise a watertight plan to fully separate investigative and indictment powers and to abolish the supplementary investigation authority, the tasks of our time."
He added, "Through intense debate and deliberation, we will gather every bit of wisdom and produce a highly complete amendment in short order," and, "We will concentrate all our capabilities on building a criminal justice system that protects the people and earns their trust."
Rep. Lee Ju-hee met with reporters immediately after the policy coordination meeting and said, "The TF is a working-level discussion among three units (floor leadership, policy committee, and Legislation and Judiciary Committee)," adding, "In particular, we will wrap it up quickly through discussions in the policy committee."