Park Chan-dae and Jung Chung-rae Attend Prosecution Reform Forum on July 2
"Ensuring Prosecution Reform News Is Heard During Chuseok"
Park Chan-dae and Jung Chung-rae, lawmakers running for the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea, declared in unison that, if elected, they would complete prosecution reform before Chuseok.
On July 2, at a 'Prosecution Reform Forum' held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Park stated, "Prosecution reform must be finalized this time." He pledged that, if elected as party leader, he would push for prosecution reform centered on the following: ▲dismantling the Prosecutors' Office by September ▲establishing a Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to investigate eight major crimes including insurrection, foreign exchange, and economic crimes ▲and creating a National Investigation Committee. The forum was hosted by the National Assembly Fair Society Forum and organized by Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Yong-min, Min Hyung-bae, and Jang Kyung-tae.
Park said, "I will complete prosecution reform by September," adding, "I will dismantle the Prosecutors' Office and transition to a system of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the National Investigation Committee, so that the sovereign people can monitor power and shape the nation." He continued, "This Chuseok, prosecution reform will be a topic at the dinner table," and added, "We will close the era of the 'prosecutors' republic' and open the door to the real Republic of Korea."
Jung also stated, "I will make sure that, on the way home for Chuseok, people will hear on the car radio news that 'the Prosecutors' Office has been abolished' and that it 'has disappeared into history.'" He added, "If separating investigation and indictment does not violate the Constitution, then, in keeping with Article 49 of the Constitution, which states that 'National Assembly decisions are made by majority vote,' the matter should be resolved by a vote."
Jung further clarified, "Some people are confused, thinking that abolishing the Prosecutors' Office means abolishing prosecutors, but that is absolutely not the case." He explained, "The Prosecutors' Office was established by the Prosecutors' Office Act, while prosecutors are stipulated in the Constitution, so prosecutors cannot be abolished." He added, "Prosecutors are also executive branch officials, and what we are proposing is to change their roles and assignments."
Jung emphasized, "If we drag out the process of prosecution reform, we are simply giving time for a counterattack. The Democratic Party will not allow time for a counterattack and will proceed swiftly and decisively." He continued, "We (the Democratic Party) will handle the fight, so we hope the president will focus solely on his work. We will credit the president with the flowers and fruits of unity, cooperation, and stability."
The forum featured presentations and a panel discussion on topics including measures to normalize the prosecution through the separation of investigation and indictment (by attorney Kim Pil-sung of Garosu Law Firm) and the role of the National Investigation Committee (by Professor Hwang Moon-kyu of Joongbu University).
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
