Bill to Abolish Supplementary Investigation Authority Sent to Judiciary Committee Subcommittee

The push to abolish the supplementary investigation authority of the Public Prosecution Office, a demand from hardline members of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), is gaining momentum as the party leadership race intensifies. In response, the opposition has moved to check both the DPK and the Lee Jae-myung administration.
Despite opposition resistance, the ruling bloc referred a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act of the Republic of Korea, jointly proposed by DPK lawmaker Kim Yong-min and Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP) lawmaker Park Eun-jeong, to the Bill Review Subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik met with Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho at the National Assembly on the 8th and urged him to keep the supplementary investigation authority in place. He said the truth in the Jang Yoon-gi rape-murder case in Gwangju Girls' High School could likely have remained hidden forever without prosecutors' supplementary investigation. He added that there have been many cases in which prosecutors uncovered the truth through supplementary investigations after police failed in the initial probe. "This is not for prosecutors," he said. "It must remain in place to wipe away the tears of victims."
The previous day, Jeong also cited the Jang Yoon-gi case and said the supplementary investigation authority was essential, proposing consultations among the ruling and opposition parties and the government. President Lee Jae-myung and Minister Jung had initially acknowledged the need for the authority.
Lawmaker Han Dong-hoon also referred to the same case on social networking service that day. He said it clearly shows that "if only the police are allowed to investigate, countless innocent victims could emerge." He then criticized the Lee administration and the DPK, saying, "Even so, they are so fixated on the party convention that they insist on abolishing the supplementary investigation authority as well. Will they stand on the killer's side?"
In response to the opposition's criticism, the government said it would maintain its position on abolishing the supplementary investigation authority, while adding that it would follow the National Assembly's decision.
The Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly, which is handling the debate over abolishing the supplementary investigation authority, was thrown into confusion as the ruling and opposition sides clashed on the day. As the full committee meeting, led by the pro-government bloc, approved the formation of the Bill Review Subcommittee and placed the Criminal Procedure Act revision containing the abolition plan on the agenda, committee members from the People Power Party staged a protest holding placards that read "rushed abolition of supplementary investigation authority."


[email protected] Kim Yoon-ho Reporter