Floor leader Han Byeong-do of the Democratic Party of Korea said on the 30th that the Criminal Procedure Act "is casting off a 70-year-old, outdated outfit and changing into a new one that protects the public's interests and human rights."
Han, the floor leader, said at a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the day that "this amendment abolishes prosecutors' direct investigative authority while more tightly and strongly putting in place mechanisms to keep police investigations in check and protect victims," and stated accordingly.
He added, "If a prosecutor requests a supplementary investigation, the police, in principle, must comply within one month," and said, "If a shoddy investigation is a concern, a higher investigative body and the like can be designated to request a supplementary investigation, and if even corrective measures are not carried out, the case can be transferred to another investigative agency."
Han, the floor leader, said, "We also widened access to investigation records for objections, meetings with prosecutors, and the opportunity to state opinions," and added, "We also expanded the scope of public prosecution applications for crimes against socially vulnerable people, including domestic violence, elder abuse, sex crimes against children and teens, and child and elder abuse."
He continued, "But the People Power Party is stoking public anxiety as if victim protection measures are disappearing and says it will block the bill's passage with a filibuster (a lawful obstruction of proceedings through unlimited debate)," and said, "The claim that only prosecutors' direct investigative authority can protect the public is false agitation that wraps prosecutorial power in the guise of public safety."
The Democratic Party said it plans to introduce the Criminal Procedure Act at a plenary session of the National Assembly to be held this afternoon. Under the Criminal Procedure Act amendment, the Public Prosecution Office Act, and the Serious Crimes Investigation Office Act, on Oct. 2 the Prosecution Service will be abolished and the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Office will be launched.