President Lee Orders Government to Incorporate Party Discussions on Prosecutorial Reform and Supplementary Investigative Authority

Presidential Office Issues Statement on January 13
President Lee Directly Backs Ruling Party
Amid Disagreements Between Party and Government Over Supplementary Investigative Authority

Yonhap News Agency

On January 13, President Lee Jaemyung instructed the government to incorporate discussions on prosecution reform that have taken place within the political party. Amid disagreements between the government and the ruling party regarding supplementary investigative authority, President Lee appears to be attempting to resolve the situation by emphasizing that the main actors in the discussion are the political parties.

The Office of the President announced in a press release that morning, "President Lee Jaemyung has instructed that sufficient discussion and deliberation on prosecution reform and supplementary investigative authority should take place within the party, and that the government should take those opinions into account."

The ruling Democratic Party and the Ministry of Justice, which is in charge of prosecution reform, have expressed differing views on the supplementary investigative authority included in the legislative drafts of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency Act and the Public Prosecution Office Act. Lawmakers from the ruling party have raised concerns that the government's draft does not clearly abolish the supplementary investigative authority of prosecutors in the Public Prosecution Office. They argue that if the Public Prosecution Office retains supplementary investigative authority, it contradicts the purpose of abolishing the Prosecutors' Office.

On the other hand, the government maintains that a mechanism to supplement investigations is necessary. On January 12, Minister of Justice Chung Sungho stated at the plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee that he "does not have a clear position" regarding prosecutors' supplementary investigative authority. Nevertheless, he added, "Since it cannot be assumed that the police's initial investigation is always complete, alternatives to address shortcomings should be discussed."

The differences between the party and the government surfaced on the same day when Han Byungdo, floor leader of the Democratic Party, remarked, "There are disagreements between the government and lawmakers." As internal dissatisfaction became public and controversy grew, Han quickly reversed his statement, saying, "There are no disagreements within the government." Kim Byungwook, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Office of the President, also sought to contain the situation, saying, "I understand that the mistake has been acknowledged," and "There are no differences between the party and the government."

The ruling party has indicated that it will seek to amend the government's proposal. Kim Yongmin, the Democratic Party's secretary on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, suggested the possibility of revisions through social media, stating, "The government's legislative draft is, as the name suggests, a draft for public notice," and "It can be amended during the drafting process and also during the committee's review." The Democratic Party plans to hold a general assembly of lawmakers on January 15 to gather opinions.