Choi Ji-seok, Director of Criminal Policy at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, is attending the first meeting of the Police-Prosecution Council held at the Ministry of Justice in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of the 30th. / Gwacheon - Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The first working-level meeting between the prosecution and police was held to discuss follow-up measures for the government task of the 'Responsible Investigation System' and the so-called 'Geomsu Wanbak (Complete Removal of Prosecution's Investigation Rights)' law.
At 2 p.m. that day, the Ministry of Justice held the first prosecution-police consultative meeting at the Government Complex Gwacheon for about an hour. From the Ministry of Justice and prosecution side, five prosecutors attended, including Yoon Won-gi, head of the Ministry of Justice Legal System Improvement TF, and Choi Ji-seok, Criminal Policy Officer of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. On the police side, three people attended: Choi Jong-sang, head of the Police Agency Responsible Investigation System Maintenance TF, Lee Eun-ae, head of the Investigation Structure Reform Team 1, and Do Ki-beom, head of the Investigation Planning Division of the Korea Coast Guard. From the Bar Association, lawyers Kim Hyung-wook and Kim Hyung-bin were present.
The name of the consultative body on that day was the 'Responsible Investigation System Maintenance Council,' and preliminary discussions were held focusing on the future operation plan of the council and major issues requiring detailed review.
The main agenda to be discussed in the future consultative body is the 'Responsible Investigation System,' which President Yoon Seok-yeol pledged to resolve blind spots arising from the adjustment of investigation rights between the prosecution and police. The key point is to allow the prosecution to directly conduct supplementary investigations after the police transfer cases and to enable the prosecution to request the transfer of non-prosecution cases.
This means expanding the prosecution's limited investigation rights following the adjustment of investigation rights between the prosecution and police. Discussions are expected to continue with the revision of subordinate laws related to the Geomsu Wanbak law, which will be implemented in September. However, the police side views the prosecution's right to request the transfer of non-prosecution cases as exceeding the Criminal Procedure Act, so related conflicts are expected to be inevitable.
After the meeting, Choi Jong-sang, head of the police side, told reporters, "The government task is naturally a matter for discussion," and added, "Regarding the maintenance of the prosecution-police responsible investigation system for the relief of public harm, it was mentioned that each agency would submit agenda items, exchange opinions in writing, and then discuss them later."
Regarding the fact that half of the consultative body members are prosecutors, he said, "We explained and discussed this time, so I think it will be somehow resolved by the next meeting."
The prosecution and police plan to continue discussions by holding working-level meetings every Thursday. A separate 'Experts and Policy Committee' involving academia and legal professionals will also be formed.
A Ministry of Justice official stated, "We will check any inconveniences experienced by the public after the implementation of the new criminal justice system and strive to prepare desirable system improvement measures for the benefit of the public through sufficient discussions."
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