Discussing the Future Direction of the Criminal Justice System
The Korean Bar Association and the Prosecution Reform Promotion Team announced on the 3rd that they will hold a public hearing titled "Public Hearing for Strengthening the Capabilities of Investigative Agencies" at the Bar Association Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of March 11.
This public hearing has been organized to discuss the future direction of the criminal justice system as reforms such as the separation of investigation and prosecution, and the establishment of the Serious Crimes Investigation Office (JungSuCheong) and the Prosecution Office are underway.
Regarding the bills for the establishment of the Serious Crimes Investigation Office and the Prosecution Office, which the government had preannounced in January, a revised preannouncement was released on February 24. According to this revision, the investigative scope of JungSuCheong was adjusted from the original nine major crimes-corruption, economic crimes, public officials, elections, defense projects, major disasters, narcotics, national security, and cybercrimes-to six major crimes, excluding public officials, elections, and major disasters. The personnel system was also changed from a dual-track structure consisting of "investigative judicial officers" and "specialized investigators," both requiring a lawyer's qualification, to a unified single rank of "investigator."
At this public hearing, discussions will center on organizational structure and personnel design for the newly proposed Serious Crimes Investigation Office and Prosecution Office. The agenda will also include balancing investigative expertise and legal competency, the supplementary investigation system and judicial controls resulting from the separation of investigation and prosecution, as well as key issues related to amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act.
The public hearing will be moderated by Kim Juhyun, the Korean Bar Association's 2nd Policy Director, with Lee Jaeheon, Senior Vice President of the Korean Bar Association, serving as the chair of the discussion. Kim Giwon, Senior Vice President of the Seoul Bar Association, will present on "Organizational Structure Plans for Strengthening the Capabilities of the Serious Crimes Investigation Office." Ryu Kyeongeun, Professor of Law at Korea University Law School, will give a presentation on issues related to supplementary investigative authority.
For the designated panel discussion, lawyer Yang Hongseok; Kang Han, reporter at Munhwa Ilbo; Kim Seunghyun, Vice President of the Korean Bar Association; Lee Changon, Professor of Law at Ewha Womans University; Ha Inho, Director of Administrative Support at the Prosecution Reform Promotion Team; lawyer Yuri An; and lawyer Jang Jooyoung will participate to discuss ways to strengthen the capabilities of investigative agencies.
A representative of the Korean Bar Association stated, "We expect this public hearing to serve as a milestone in setting standards for institutional design from the perspective of guaranteeing citizens' fundamental rights and realizing criminal justice." The representative also emphasized that reforms to the criminal justice system are directly linked to the fundamental rights of the people, and should therefore be pursued through thorough examination and extensive public discussion.
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