Signs of Party-Blue House Conflict... Kim Minseok: "Abolition of Supplementary Investigation Authority Is the Principle"

Prime Minister Kim Minseok stated on January 13 that, regarding the government's prosecution reform plan, "We have consistently maintained that the principle is to abolish the supplementary investigation authority."

Prime Minister Kim Minseok (second from left). Photo by Yonhap News

On the afternoon of the same day, Prime Minister Kim wrote on his Facebook page, "Prosecution reform is an absolute and non-negotiable task, and the separation of investigation and indictment is at the core of prosecution reform," reiterating his position.

Earlier that morning, the Blue House announced that President Lee Jaemyung, amid internal opposition within the ruling party over the prosecution reform plan and the issue of supplementary investigation authority, instructed, "The party should engage in thorough discussion and deliberation, and the government should take those opinions into account."

In response, Prime Minister Kim emphasized, "The bills to establish the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Agency will be thoroughly discussed by the party and the National Assembly during the legislative notice period, and the government will actively reflect those opinions." He added, "We will do our utmost to finalize a plan that upholds the true purpose of prosecution reform."

Prime Minister Kim's remarks appear to be an effort to defuse strong backlash from some within the ruling party, who have criticized the government's recently released bills on establishing the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Agency as creating a 'second prosecution office.'

However, regarding the most contentious issue-the so-called dual structure of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (investigative judicial officers and specialized investigators)-Prime Minister Kim did not offer a clear opinion. As for whether public prosecutors at the Public Prosecution Agency should retain supplementary investigation authority, he stated that this matter would be discussed during the future process of amending the Criminal Procedure Act, but he made it clear that the principle is to abolish it.