[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] On the 13th, the day after the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, the majority party in the National Assembly, decided to push forward the passage of the "Geomsu Wanbak" (complete removal of prosecutorial investigative authority) bill, the prosecution is in turmoil.
Kim Oh-soo, the head of the prosecution, has launched an all-out appeal campaign. A chief prosecutor submitted a resignation letter, and critical posts are flooding the internal prosecution network. As the sense of crisis rapidly spreads that the future of the prosecution will become uncertain if Geomsu Wanbak truly becomes a reality, the organization is being greatly shaken.
According to the legal community on the 13th, Kim visited the press room of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office at 3 p.m. to hold a meeting with attending reporters and explain the problems of the Geomsu Wanbak bill. It was a meeting he personally requested. Earlier that morning, Kim had planned to visit the National Assembly to meet with Park Byeong-seok, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, but the schedule was canceled due to conflicts. It is said that scheduling with the National Assembly side is still being coordinated.
Kim is also considering recommending that President Moon Jae-in, who holds veto power in the State Council, exercise his veto against the bill. Since the Geomsu Wanbak bill has been criticized as "directly violating the Constitution," if the bill is actually passed, he is also contemplating filing a constitutional review petition with the Constitutional Court.
There was even a prosecutor who submitted a resignation letter out of shock, concern, and frustration. Lee Bok-hyun, chief prosecutor of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, known as a representative special prosecutor within the prosecution, posted a resignation message on the internal prosecution network that morning, pointing out that "Geomsu Wanbak cannot eliminate the wrongful practices of investigative agencies."
Lee's resignation post received numerous comments from colleagues urging reconsideration, saying, "Resignations should be submitted only when necessary and by the necessary people." There were also posts stating that those responsible for the current situation should take responsibility. A wreath bearing the phrase "Resign all immediately" was even delivered in front of the main gate of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
Kang Baek-shin, chief of the trial division at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, also posted a message meticulously pointing out the unconstitutionality of the Geomsu Wanbak bill. He explained that the bill conflicts in many places with the investigative system premised by the Constitution, the principle of separation of powers, and the prosecutor's right to request warrants based on investigative authority.
There was also a proposal to hold a nationwide meeting of representatives of ordinary prosecutors to discuss this issue. A group of ordinary prosecutors from the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office suggested in a post on the internal prosecution network the day before, "Let representatives of ordinary prosecutors nationwide gather to discuss the practical difficulties experienced during investigations after the amendment of the Criminal Procedure Act, the side effects that will occur if prosecutorial investigative authority is abolished, the risk of case concealment, and the increased possibility of crime cover-ups."
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