Jung Chung-rae of the Democratic Party of Korea said he is carefully considering the timing of declaring a run for party leader. He again stressed that the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority should be completely abolished in the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act.
On the afternoon of the 3rd, at a Democratic Party workshop held in Yongsan District, Seoul, Jung said he is "still carefully considering" in response to a reporter's question, "When will you decide to run for the party leadership?" He did not answer the follow-up question, "What are you carefully considering?"
Regarding the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, Jung said, "My position is that the supplementary investigation authority must be completely abolished, and it is a firm, unwavering, immortal principle," adding, "Abolishing the supplementary investigation authority aligns with the grand principle of prosecutorial reform of separating investigation and indictment."
He added, "The moment the prosecution is given supplementary investigation authority, it opens the door across all areas to de facto reinvestigations, additional investigations, planned investigations, and retaliatory investigations," and said, "Coal gas seeps in through a small hole. This time we must perfectly seal the coal gas hole."
On the truth dispute over the "government's proposal to handle the Criminal Procedure Act in May," he said, "There is talk that the government requested the abolition of the supplementary investigation authority in May and the party refused, but I have never heard such a proposal," adding, "No bill was submitted, and I have not seen one."
He continued, "It doesn't seem necessary to talk about this part (with former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok)," emphasizing, "If the government wants a bill handled at a certain time, it should request it while submitting that bill, but there was nothing like that."