Floor leader Han Byeong-do of the Democratic Party of Korea said separating investigation and indictment is both the starting point and the completion of prosecution reform, signaling a resolve to finish the overhaul, including abolishing prosecutors' authority to order supplementary investigations.
On the morning of the 22nd, the floor leader laid out his position at the party's supreme council meeting on abolishing prosecutors' authority to order supplementary investigations. He said, "We must not stop at merely changing the signboard through an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act; we have to change the actual powers and how the system works," adding, "The Democratic Party's principle is that investigations should be handled by investigative agencies, and indictments and the maintenance of prosecutions should be handled by the Public Prosecution Office."
He went on, "Within the party there is no disagreement with the overarching principle that prosecution reform separating investigation and indictment is both the starting point and the completion," adding, "There is only intense debate to build a better system, including mutual checks and cooperation among investigative agencies and measures to protect victims." He also stressed, "Differences in detailed perceptions must not shake the principle of separating investigation from indictment, nor become a means to restore the prosecution's investigative powers."
The floor leader said, "The Democratic Party will make the right to demand supplementary investigations substantive and clarify responsibility so investigative agencies carry out those demands swiftly and faithfully," adding, "We will prevent delays and ensure real accountability for shoddy investigations, including replacing investigators and seeking disciplinary action."
He added, "It is time to unite the party's collective will," noting, "Reform always meets resistance, and if even a small gap is left, forces that want to turn back the clock will kick in." He continued, "If we stop or compromise here, only the sign on the Prosecution Service will change to Public Prosecution Office, while the essence of prosecutorial power will remain intact."
He further said, "If we fail again to complete prosecution reform, the dark history of political prosecutors will repeat," adding, "We will not postpone this to the next administration or the National Assembly."
Meanwhile, chief Spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun told reporters right after the supreme council meeting, regarding the timing of passage, "We did not have specific discussions, but the leadership's basic stance is to get it done without going past the Aug. 17 national convention."