Jung Chungrae, leader of the Democratic Party, drew a clear line against rumors of conflict on August 31, stating, "There are no differences of opinion or policy regarding the separation of investigation and prosecution between the Democratic Party, the government, and the presidential office."
On his Facebook page that day, Jung wrote, "The Prosecutors' Office will be abolished. Prosecutors will no longer be able to conduct investigations. There are no 'discords,' 'power struggles,' 'resistance,' or 'missteps' among the party, government, and presidential office."
Recently, Justice Minister Jung Sungho has expressed caution regarding parts of the prosecutorial reform bill being pushed by the Democratic Party, voicing concerns that placing the police, the National Investigation Headquarters, and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety could concentrate power and cause negative side effects.
In contrast, Im Eunjeong, chief prosecutor at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, publicly criticized Minister Jung's cautious approach at a forum, targeting him by saying it was "merely an attempt to increase the number of chief prosecutors," which sparked further controversy. Amid this, President Lee Jaemyung has called for reasonable debate and discussion on the key issues of prosecutorial reform.
Jung stated, "President Lee Jaemyung's suggestion to 'go through a process of public discussion' is only natural," adding, "The party is preparing for sufficient debate at an appropriate time, and we can hold public hearings in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, general meetings of lawmakers, or even more open debates if necessary. The Government Organization Act will soon be finalized and is expected to pass within September."
Regarding the location of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, Jung said, "As originally planned, coordination is ongoing between the party, government, and presidential office on whether it should be placed under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety or the Ministry of Justice," and added, "For reference, the National Planning Committee has proposed placing it under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. This issue will also be opened to public discussion soon." He further emphasized, "Fake news is not just about distorting facts; absurd claims are also a kind of fake news," and reiterated, "There are no disagreements on the major direction of prosecutorial reform, including the separation of investigation and prosecution and the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
