Kim Do-eup: "Why is the Supreme Prosecutors' Office included in the state audit? There is no connection"

Kim Do-eup, Chairman of the National Assembly Judiciary Committee, is talking with Ki Dong-min, Democratic Party of Korea whip, and Jeong Jeom-sik, People Power Party whip, at the Judiciary Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 2nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Do-eup, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the ruling party, clearly opposed the inclusion of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in the scope of the national investigation, stating that "there is no reason for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to be included as a subject of the national investigation."

On the morning of the 24th, Kim told reporters at the National Assembly, "If a connection between the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the police drug investigation personnel management is proven, it can be included in the national investigation, but if not, there is no reason to include it."

Earlier, the ruling and opposition parties were scheduled to hold the first full meeting of the special committee on the national investigation that morning to begin substantive discussions, but the meeting was disrupted as ruling party members did not attend due to Kim's opposition.

Kim stated, "There is no relation at all between the police drug investigation personnel management and the prosecution," and added, "I expressed the opinion that under such circumstances, there is no reason for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to be included as a target institution, and Floor Leader Joo Ho-young agreed."

He further explained, "The scope and purpose of the investigation must be finalized through practical negotiations and approved by the plenary session before implementation. Considering the scope and purpose, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office is unrelated, and knowingly including it and pushing it through raises the issue of summoning the Prosecutor General to the National Assembly for investigation regardless of the purpose and scope, making him sit there all day."

The opposition party is protesting, claiming that the ruling party reversed the agreement made the previous day. In response, Kim said, "What was agreed upon yesterday was the target institutions for investigation, and practically, the purpose and scope are concluded through practical negotiations by the secretaries, and once the scope and purpose of the investigation are included in the plan and approved by the plenary session, it will be implemented. During practical negotiations, if it is confirmed that it is unrelated to the purpose and scope of the national investigation, it should be revised, not that the agreement was reversed."