Cho Kuk: "I Will Approach Prosecution Reform with the Determination That There Is No Next Time"

Opposition Parties Hold 'Prosecutorial Reform Debate'
Call for Checks Through Independent Inspection Body

The Democratic Party of Korea and the Party for National Innovation, along with other opposition parties, united to raise their voices for prosecutorial reform. There were also calls to reduce the prosecution's authority solely to indictment and to establish an independent inspection body for checks and balances.

Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 22nd National Assembly Prosecution Reform Legislative Strategy Forum held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 8th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the morning of the 8th, a 'Prosecutorial Reform Forum' was held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, hosted by Kim Yong-min, a Democratic Party of Korea member-elect, and Hwang Un-ha, a Party for National Innovation member-elect. The forum's presentation was delivered by Professor Seo Bo-hak of Kyung Hee University Law School, with participation in the discussion by lawyer Kim Nam-jun of the law firm Citizen and editorial writer Lee Chun-jae of The Hankyoreh newspaper.

Cho Guk, leader of the Party for National Innovation, said in his congratulatory remarks, "The Korean prosecution monopolizes unprecedented and absolute power that is hard to find anywhere else in the world," adding, "More bold and resolute reforms are necessary." He continued, "The prosecution frequently engages in protecting their own, targeted investigations, and retaliatory indictments, while scrutinizing the faults of political opponents under a microscope but turning a blind eye to the wrongdoings of those in power." He emphasized, "The Party for National Innovation has pledged prosecutorial reform. In the 22nd National Assembly, we will proceed with the determination that 'there is no next time.'"

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated, "Not only is there prosecutorial dictatorship, but the prosecution's misconduct has reached its peak," adding, "Ultimately, the operation of the Republic of Korea has been entrusted to a few prosecutors, and everything has become a mess." He also said, "This is a major crisis for the livelihood of the people, but the prosecution has been solely focused on mobilizing political prosecutors to eliminate political opponents and the previous administration," explaining, "As a result, the failure to complete prosecutorial reform has had a significant impact on the livelihood economy. Prosecutorial reform is the will of the people expressed in this general election and a key task for the 22nd National Assembly."

Member-elect Kim Yong-min said, "The goal and endpoint of prosecutorial reform is the separation of investigation and prosecution," explaining, "When the law was first established over 70 years ago, the police's authority was temporarily entrusted to the prosecution, but that investigative authority has overwhelmed the Republic of Korea and abused its power, destroying democracy." He further stated, "The core is to return the temporary authority to its rightful place and redesign the prosecution to focus on its original function of filing indictments," emphasizing, "We must introduce an independent and more empowered inspection agency and establish democratic control measures over investigative agencies."