Kim Yongtae: "The 'Four Laws for Dismantling the Prosecution Service' Must Be Withdrawn Immediately... CIHRO Harm Will Be a Hundred Times Worse"

Ruling Party: "Complete Separation of Investigative and Prosecutorial Powers Through Abolition of the Prosecution Service"

On June 12, Kim Yongtae, the Emergency Committee Chairperson of the People Power Party, defined the prosecution reform bills being promoted by the Democratic Party of Korea as the "Four Laws for the Destruction of the Constitution and the Dismantling of the Prosecution Service," and called for their immediate withdrawal.

At a press conference held at the National Assembly that day, Chairperson Kim stated, "The so-called 'Four Laws for the Dismantling of the Prosecution Service,' proposed by some Democratic Party lawmakers, undermine the fundamental principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and seriously infringe upon the rights and interests of the people." He argued, "This is a dangerous attempt that could throw the entire criminal justice system into chaos."

Yonhap News

Previously, Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Yongmin, Min Hyungbae, Jang Kyungtae, Kang Junhyun, and Kim Moonsu held a press conference at the National Assembly the previous day. They stated, "It is now time to fulfill the people's demand to end political prosecutors and prosecutorial dictatorship," and announced the introduction of the "Four Prosecution Reform Bills," which include abolishing the Prosecution Service and establishing the Public Prosecution Office, the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (Jungsucheong), and the National Investigation Commission.

In response, Chairperson Kim criticized, "This will affect not only high-ranking officials but also the lives and overall stability of the entire population, and the ensuing chaos and harm will be ten or even a hundred times greater than those caused by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIHRO)."

He argued, "Attempting to effectively dismantle the Prosecution Service without a constitutional amendment is an unconstitutional idea," and added, "The National Investigation Commission, which the Democratic Party proposes to establish after dismantling the Prosecution Service, has neutralized all institutional mechanisms designed to ensure the fairness and political neutrality of investigations."

He continued, "The Constitution stipulates that most of the eleven members of the National Investigation Commission, which would have investigative, supervisory, and inspection authority over the Prosecution Service, the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, the CIHRO, and the Coast Guard, are to be appointed by the President and the Democratic Party, which controls legislative power." He dismissed this as "a bad law that does not strengthen the independence of investigative agencies, but rather clearly subordinates them to the regime."

Chairperson Kim also expressed concern over the fact that the lawmakers leading the bill's introduction have set a goal of passing it within three months. He warned, "Such hasty legislation could shake the criminal justice system that has been built up over decades and even threaten the daily lives of the people," and emphasized, "The harm of the CIHRO, which the Democratic Party pushed through unilaterally, has already become evident."

Chairperson Kim stressed, "The People Power Party will never deny that genuine prosecution reform is necessary," but added, "Reform must respect constitutional values, prioritize the rights and interests of the people, and proceed through a deliberative process that does not undermine the stability of the criminal justice system."