"Prosecution Focuses on Warrant Requests and Indictments, Not Investigations" Emphasizing 'Separation of Investigation Authority'
Yoon Ho-jung, Co-Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea (center), is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 8th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] The Democratic Party of Korea, which is pushing for 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecutorial investigative authority), strongly condemned the collective actions of the prosecution opposing the separation of indictment and investigative powers.
On the 9th, Hong Seo-yoon, the Democratic Party's youth spokesperson, said in a written briefing, "Just because the era of the Prosecutor General being appointed by the President is coming, does that mean the legislative branch, the people's representative body, is to be taken lightly?" and added, "The prosecution's collective actions only hasten the separation of investigative powers." She further criticized, "Unlike in the past when the first phase of prosecutorial reform was accepted, the reason for the change in attitude is nothing but the change of government."
She continued, "It is deeply concerning if the prosecution mistakenly believes it can dominate over the National Assembly," and emphasized, "They act as if a catastrophe will occur if investigative powers are separated, but the essence is a threat not to touch their own privileges."
Lee Soo-jin, the floor spokesperson, also compared the prosecution's vested interests to 'rotten flesh' during a briefing on the 8th, saying, "The prosecution should first think about how to excise it."
Other lawmakers also expressed support for the separation of indictment and investigative powers through social networking services (SNS).
On the 9th, Representative Hwang Un-ha pointed out on his Facebook, "I have never heard of collective opposition from Ministry of Gender Equality and Family officials despite controversies over its abolition," and criticized, "The prosecution is trapped in arrogance, thinking of themselves as an institution equal to or above the legislative, judicial, and executive branches." He added regarding the prosecution's collective actions, "Strict public official ethics codes must be applied, and any disruption of public service discipline should not be tolerated."
On the 8th, Representative Jo Jung-sik, who held a one-person protest in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office demanding prosecutorial reform, also criticized on SNS the same day, saying, "A public official group openly defying the ruling party's policy will be recorded as a disgraceful chapter in the prosecution's history," and "The prosecution has finally bared its teeth."
Former judge and Representative Choi Ki-sang argued, "Our Constitution only mentions 'prosecutors' in relation to 'warrants,'" and insisted, "The prosecution should focus on warrant requests and indictments, not investigations."
Representative Ahn Min-seok urged, "The Democratic Party must step on the accelerator to pass the Prosecutorial Normalization Act before May 9, the inauguration day of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," calling for Geomsu Wanbak.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
