Han Byung-do, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, said the party would seek internal consensus on a Criminal Procedure Act revision that would abolish prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers, stating, "If necessary, we will hold an additional policy caucus and gather opinions."
In opening remarks at a Democratic Party caucus held at the National Assembly on the 14th, Han made the comment regarding the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers, saying, "I am well aware that various concerns are being raised in some quarters." He emphasized, "I hope we can complete a criminal justice system solely for the people through the sufficient deliberation and vigorous debate that the Democratic Party takes pride in."
Han argued, "Completing prosecutorial reform is about completing a criminal justice system for the people," adding, "Over the past 80 years, prosecutors, who monopolized investigative and indictment powers, wielded unrestrained authority, intervened in politics, and left a major stain on the history of the Republic of Korea."
He continued, "Prosecutorial reform is an epochal task and historical undertaking that can no longer be delayed or reversed," adding, "Now we must complete the final piece of prosecutorial reform through a Criminal Procedure Act revision centered on the complete abolition of supplementary investigation powers."
The Democratic Party has pushed for the full abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers as part of prosecutorial reform, but concerns are growing within some segments of the party that gaps in victim protection could emerge, in the wake of the "Jang Yoon-ki case," in which allegations of a flawed police investigation surfaced. Democratic Party lawmaker Hong Ki-won on the same day introduced a separate Criminal Procedure Act revision that would recognize supplementary investigation powers only for cases involving crimes against socially vulnerable groups, livelihood crimes such as voice phishing, and cases nearing the statute of limitations.
Suh Young-kyo, a Democratic Party lawmaker and chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, met with reporters ahead of the caucus and said, "The Public Prosecution Office Act does not include supplementary investigation powers. It is structured so that prosecutors conduct no investigation," adding, "We will thoroughly incorporate measures that provide robust protection for victims and properly apprehend criminals."
Kim Seung-won, the ruling party's secretary on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, explained, "Because we are well aware of the concerns citizens have due to the Jang Yoon-ki case, we are working to prepare legislation that allows oversight at any time during the investigation process so that such incidents never happen again."
He added, "We are discussing this comprehensively, including measures to establish a system that digitizes everything obtained during the investigation process — evidence, circumstances, indirect facts, and even sentencing materials — so that case parties can view all of it, similar to an investigation real-name system or an investigation accountability system."
