Some Prosecution Reform Advisory Committee Members to Resign Amid Backlash Over Serious Crimes Investigation and Prosecution Office Bills

As criticism emerges from within the ruling bloc that the government's bills to establish the Serious Crimes Investigation Office and the Prosecution Office amount to a "second Prosecutors' Office Act," several members of the advisory committee under the Prime Minister's Office's Prosecution Reform Promotion Team, which drafted the bills, are set to resign.

Seo Bohak, a professor at Kyung Hee University Law School and an advisory committee member, stated at an "Emergency Forum on Desirable Prosecution Reform" held at the National Assembly Library in Yeouido on January 13 by hardline lawmakers from the ruling bloc, "I was personally very shocked by the bill, and along with several like-minded colleagues, I am planning to resign from the advisory committee today."

Professor Seo commented on the bill, saying, "It directly contradicts the will of the people and the aspirations for prosecution reform held by many lawmakers," and added, "I believe it betrays the public's expectations and deceives the people."

He particularly emphasized that, in the process of amending the Criminal Procedure Act, prosecutors belonging to the Prosecution Office must not be granted supplementary investigation rights or the authority to conclude investigations.

Professor Seo also criticized Justice Minister Jeong Seongho's response to Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yongmin's remark the previous day that prosecutors' opinions were excessively reflected in the government's prosecution reform discussions. Referring to Jeong's statement that "the prosecution under the Lee Jaemyung administration is different from the past," Seo said, "Because the prosecution is bowing down, it seems to appear as meek as a lamb."

He went on to say, "If a system that maintains and expands prosecutorial power passes, who will actually survive before the prosecution's blade when the administration changes?"

It is reported that six advisory members, including Professor Seo, Professor Hwang Moonkyu, and attorneys Kim Pilseong, Han Dongsu, Jang Beomsik, and Kim Seongjin, have expressed their intention to resign.

The advisory committee members are expected to share their views at a regular committee meeting held on the evening of January 13. The resigning members plan to hold a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center on the morning of January 14 to announce their position.

In a text message distributed through Assemblywoman Park Eunjung's office of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, the advisory committee members stated, "We cannot help but harbor strong doubts that the Promotion Team is pushing prosecution reform in a direction that actually revives the prosecutorial power that should have been dismantled," and added, "We believe that, in the process, the advisory committee was excluded and the public's desire for reform was betrayed."

The advisory committee, formed in October last year, consists of 16 members with Park Chanun, a professor at Hanyang University Law School, serving as chair. The term runs until September 30 of this year.