Ruling Party Maintains Pace on Prosecution Reform... Closed Policy Meetings Continue

Democratic Party's Special Committee on Normalizing the Prosecution Holds Closed Policy Meeting with the Government
No Change in Timeline to Finalize Prosecution Reform Bill by the 26th

Although there have been discussions both within and outside the ruling party about adjusting the pace of prosecution reform, the Democratic Party of Korea continues to hold policy coordination meetings with the government to complete the prosecution reform bill before the Chuseok holiday.

Yonhap News Agency

According to the National Assembly on August 20, the Democratic Party’s Special Committee on Normalizing the Prosecution (chaired by Assemblyman Min Hyungbae) held a closed working-level policy meeting with the government on this day. The committee was established to complete the legislative process for prosecution reform. Four bills are being handled by each subcommittee: the Prosecution Office Act, the Serious Crimes Investigation Office (Jungsoo Office) Act, the National Investigation Committee (Guksu Committee) Act, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIHCO) Act.

There have been speculations that President Lee Jaemyung and Prime Minister Kim Minseok’s emphasis on thoroughness might be a sign of support for slowing down the process. However, a key member of the committee responded "Yes" to Asia Economy’s question about whether the plan to finalize the proposal by the 26th remains unchanged, adding, "We are holding meetings every day, including on holidays, to draft the proposal." Moon Jinseok, Senior Deputy Floor Leader, also commented on the remarks by President Lee and Prime Minister Kim the previous day, saying, "I do not interpret them as a call to slow down," and added, "The emphasis on deliberation is intended to ensure that there are no side effects once the reform measures are completed."

While the committee has remained silent on other details, it has made its stance clear on abolishing the prosecution’s supplementary investigative authority. A key member of the committee stated, "There will be no retention of direct investigative authority by the prosecution," adding, "This has been clearly settled." Another committee member also said, "The only decision made so far is that there will be no supplementary investigative authority, and the rest of the details are being prepared by each subcommittee."

Since its launch on the 6th, the committee has been refining the prosecution reform bill through weekly meetings. Earlier this week, it also held a second closed policy coordination meeting with the government. On the 12th, a working-level meeting was held with field prosecutors and police officers to gather their opinions.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Democratic Party’s parliamentary prosecution reform task force (TF) has discussed the establishment of a Prosecution Office under the Ministry of Justice, a Serious Crimes Investigation Office under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, a National Investigation Committee directly under the Prime Minister, and expanded investigative authority for the CIHCO.