President Moon Approves 'Complete Prosecution Reform' Bill, Citing "Insufficient Public Trust in Prosecution" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporters Inho Yoo and Jieun Lee] President Moon Jae-in on the 3rd approved the so-called ‘Geomsu Wanbak’ (Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights) bill proclamation. With all legislative and administrative procedures for the Geomsu Wanbak bill virtually completed, strong opposition from the People Power Party and the prosecution is expected.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 3rd, President Moon presided over the last Cabinet meeting of his term at the Blue House and approved the proclamation of the Geomsu Wanbak bill, which consists of amendments to the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act. The bill will be officially promulgated after practical procedures such as publication in the official gazette, and will take effect four months thereafter.

In his opening remarks, President Moon said, “Today’s Cabinet meeting was held by adjusting the time. It was to responsibly review and approve the prosecution reform-related bills, including the amendments to the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act, within our government’s term.”

President Moon explained that to take responsibility for and finalize the prosecution reform bill, he waited for the bill to pass the plenary session and be sent to the government in the morning, then held the Cabinet meeting in the afternoon.

Regarding this bill, President Moon stated, “It defines crimes that the prosecution can initiate investigations on as corruption and economic crimes, thereby reducing the scope of direct investigations by the prosecution. It also separates investigation and prosecution within the prosecution and includes provisions to prohibit unfair separate investigations.”

President Moon emphasized, “Our government, under the historical mission of being a candlelight government, has unwaveringly pushed forward reforms of power institutions, achieving significant progress in institutional reforms such as the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, adjustment of investigative rights between the prosecution and police, implementation of the autonomous police system, establishment of the National Investigation Headquarters, and reform of the National Intelligence Service. This is to ensure that power institutions faithfully perform their original roles under the principles of checks and balances and democratic control while guaranteeing the basic rights of the people.”

He added, “Despite these achievements, concerns about the political neutrality and fairness of prosecutorial investigations and selective justice have not yet been resolved, and there has been an assessment that public trust is insufficient, which led the National Assembly to take a further step in separating investigation and prosecution.”

President Moon reflected, “In the legislative process, there was an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties mediated by the Speaker of the National Assembly, but the agreement was broken, causing considerable difficulties in the legislative process, which is regrettable.”

He continued, “Since this has a profound impact on the lives and human rights of the people, I ask Cabinet members to discuss and deliberate frankly from the perspective of common sense and the people, regardless of their departmental jurisdiction.”