"The jeans I wore at the time of the incident were the same piece of evidence at both the prosecution and police stages. But some found it, and some did not. That is why the supplementary investigation authority is needed. These jeans also show the prosecution's persistence."
Kim Jin-ju, the victim in the Busan roundhouse-kick case, attended a forum on the supplementary investigation authority held by the People Power Party at the National Assembly on the morning of the 14th. Kim testified directly, from a victim's standpoint, about how serious a problem abolishing the supplementary investigation authority would be.
Kim brought to the National Assembly the jeans worn at the time of the crime. The jeans were decisive evidence that proved the perpetrator Lee's sex crime charge. Police initially sent the case to prosecutors on assault charges, but prosecutors indicted on attempted murder, and during the appeal the perpetrator's DNA was detected on the jeans, prompting prosecutors to change the indictment from attempted murder to attempted rape-murder. Thanks to the prosecution's efforts, the perpetrator's sentence increased from 12 years to 20 years in prison.
Mentioning the prosecution's effort to find sex-crime evidence on the jeans, Kim said, "Are all prosecutors truly monsters? Generalizing everyone is a shortcut to creating a bad society," and added, "If prosecutors disappear, victims will not know what to do. We need to discuss how to protect victims." Kim also said, "If political investigations are the problem, then make a law to block them. Why abolish an institution?" and added, "While people talk about prosecution reform, victims suffer from ping-pong investigations, capable prosecutors leave, and the public feels anxious about whether they are receiving proper investigations and trials."
Kim cried out, "A crime victim's life is nothing short of devastating. I have no money and no connections," and added, "People with vested interests may be able to prepare for whatever happens, but for someone like me it is impossible. Stop fighting only the fights that favor the well-off."
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is pushing for the abolition of the supplementary investigation authority as its party line. But public opinion has been stirred as evidence destruction by police in the Jang Yoon-gi case was revealed through the prosecution's supplementary investigation. Even within the ruling party, voices opposing a complete abolition of the supplementary investigation authority are being raised publicly.
Experts who attended the forum also voiced opposition. Attorney Kim Jae-ryeon of Onsesang law firm said, "There is no system on Earth that is 100% perfect," and added, "That is why mutual checks and complements among institutions are necessary. Prosecution reform concerns the problem of political prosecutors; the organization itself should not be demonized." Kim continued, "It is bitter that those arguing for abolishing the supplementary investigation authority are members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. Those who call for abolition are the perpetrators."
Kim Jong-min, managing partner at MK law firm, also noted, "Ordinary criminal division prosecutors are the foundation of Korea's criminal justice system that has protected crime victims for 78 years. Why should they be denied because of the deviations of a few political prosecutors? It is a completely wrong prescription."
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, who attended the forum, said, "Looking at the Jang Yoon-gi case, it becomes clear that not only is it impossible to rely on the police's good faith to conduct a proper investigation, but the answer we arrive at now is actually 'police reform,'" and added, "Given the vast power the police exercise, there must be someone to check and control it."
Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik also said, "If even the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority is abolished, the minimum check to prevent poor police investigations and the abuse of investigative power could be neutralized," and added, "The supplementary investigation authority is not a system for prosecutors; it is a system to protect the public's rights and prevent wrongful victims."
The People Power Party plans to introduce an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act that would preserve the supplementary investigation authority.