Legislation and Judiciary Committee Confirms Prosecution Reform Hearing: "Will Address Abuse of Prosecutorial Power"

Focus on Alleged Abuse of Prosecutorial Power:
Geonjin Bopsa Bundle Strap Case, Spy Fabrication, North Korea Remittance
Eight Witnesses and Twelve Reference Persons Approved
"Criminal Complaints to Be Filed for Non-Attendance"

The National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee has decided to hold a legislative hearing on September 5 to discuss the so-called "Four Prosecution Reform Bills," which center on abolishing the Prosecutors' Office and establishing the Public Prosecution Office, the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, and the National Investigation Committee.

Kim Yongmin, a member of the Democratic Party and chairman of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's 1st Subcommittee, is opening the 1st Subcommittee meeting on bill review held at the National Assembly on the 25th. On this day, the 1st Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee discussed the adoption of the plan to hold a legislative hearing on prosecution reform and deliberated on the partial amendment bill to the Court Organization Act. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 25th, the 1st Subcommittee on Bill Review of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, approved the "Plan for the Legislative Hearing on Prosecution Reform" and the agenda requesting the attendance of witnesses and reference persons at the plenary session. The hearing will be held at 10 a.m. on September 5 at the National Assembly, with eight witnesses and twelve reference persons scheduled to attend.

The list of witnesses includes Shin Eungseok, former Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office; Park Geonwook, Human Rights Officer at the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office; Lee Heedong, Prosecutor at the Busan High Prosecutors' Office; and two investigators from the Southern District Prosecutors' Office at the time, all related to the case in which a bundle strap from a stack of cash seized at the home of Jeon Seongbae, also known as "Geonjin Bopsa," was lost by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office in December last year.

Additionally, the witness list includes Ahn Dongwan, former Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office who investigated the "Seoul City Official Spy Fabrication Case," and Bae Sangyoon, Chairman of KH Group, who recently stated that the "Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case is unrelated to President Lee Jaemyung."

The selected reference persons include Baek Haeryong, former Chief of the Criminal Division at Yeongdeungpo Police Station (Superintendent), Kim Gwangmin, attorney for former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwayoung, and Lee Gwangcheol, former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House. The Democratic Party plans to focus on cases of abuse of prosecutorial power, external pressure on investigations, and allegations of election interference through these individuals.

Kim Yongmin, Democratic Party assemblyman and ruling party secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, told reporters after the meeting, "We will examine, case by case, the side effects that arise when the prosecution holds both investigative and prosecutorial powers, and aim to build public consensus." He also warned, "If those involved in the bundle strap case do not attend the hearing, we will file criminal complaints."

Furthermore, Assemblyman Kim stated regarding the amendment bills for the "three major special prosecutor laws"-the insurrection case, Kim Keonhee, and Private Chae-that "As soon as they are submitted as party policy, we plan to introduce and process them in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee," adding, "They could be submitted as early as tomorrow."

Meanwhile, the committee also discussed amendments to the Court Organization Act and the Court Establishment Act to set up maritime courts in Incheon and Busan, but was unable to reach a conclusion and plans to continue the review.