[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The March National Assembly is expected to witness intense clashes between the ruling and opposition parties over the complete abolition of the prosecution's investigative authority and the proposed establishment of the so-called Serious Crime Investigation Agency (Jungsucheong). According to the ruling party's plan, after a certain grace period, 'prosecutors conducting investigations' will disappear. Only 'investigators with a background as prosecutors' will remain.
On the 28th, Yoon Hee-seok, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "The ruling party's determination for ‘complete abolition of prosecution's investigative authority’ is firm. They plan to propose the bill related to the Serious Crime Investigation Agency this week," adding, "If investigative agencies are split, the public will be immediately inconvenienced as they won't know where to report cases. It is also questionable whether prosecutors who did not participate in investigations can properly respond in trials. What about the expected crime response gaps until the new investigative agency is established?"
He continued, "There is no escaping suspicion that they intend to control investigative agencies to cover up regime corruption. Isn't the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who refused to comply with the prosecution's summons, leading by example by agreeing to be investigated by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (Gongsucho)?" He added, "We cannot overlook the ruling party's attempt to conceal power corruption. The People Power Party will firmly oppose the legislative rush to establish the Serious Crime Investigation Agency."
The Democratic Party's Special Committee on Prosecution Reform has already set the direction to completely abolish the prosecution's investigative authority over six major crimes (corruption, economy, public officials, elections, defense industry, and major disasters) and establish the Serious Crime Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Justice.
The Prosecutor's Office may be transformed into a Public Prosecutor's Office. Investigations would be conducted by police or investigators from the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, while prosecutors would act as legal professionals filing charges. Prosecutors wishing to continue investigative work may apply to join the investigative staff of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency or the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. The Democratic Party is discussing granting a one to two-year grace period if the related bills pass the National Assembly.
On the 25th, Representative Hwang Un-ha of the Democratic Party's Special Committee on Prosecution Reform appeared on YTN Radio and said, "There are two methods. One is to keep the name 'Prosecutor's Office' while removing criminal investigation duties from the prosecution's role," adding, "Alternatively, to symbolize a clear break from the past and a new beginning, the Prosecutor's Office Act could be abolished, the Prosecutor's Office itself could be dissolved, and the name changed to Public Prosecutor's Office, with prosecutors renamed as public prosecutors. Currently, they are called prosecutors and judges, but if renamed as public prosecutor judges, this could clarify the identity, function, role, and authority of prosecutors more distinctly."
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