Voices calling for the partial retention of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers are growing within the Democratic Party of Korea. Although the party has already made the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers its official position, lawmakers with legal backgrounds have again raised the need to retain some of these powers. A bill to amend the Criminal Procedure Act, which would maintain prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers only for cases involving vulnerable groups such as sex crimes and child abuse, has also been proposed within the party.
Rep. Hong Ki-won of the Democratic Party on the 14th proposed an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act that would retain prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers only for crimes against socially vulnerable people such as children and stalking victims, livelihood-infringing crimes such as voice phishing and fraud, and cases with pressing deadlines such as those nearing the statute of limitations. Such cases would all be referred to prosecutors.
This marks the first time that Democratic Party lawmakers have expressed opposition through a bill since the party leadership announced its policy of fully abolishing supplementary investigation powers. The bill was co-sponsored by 11 lawmakers, including Rep. Hong as well as Reps. Ko Min-jung, Kwak Sang-eon, Kim Nam-hee, and Moon Jin-seok.
At a press conference, Rep. Hong said, "There is a clear reason why President Lee Jae-myung, who was the greatest victim of the abuse of prosecutorial power, also spoke of the need for supplementary investigation in exceptional cases." He added, "Protecting the people and creating a criminal justice system in which victims are not wronged is the direction of prosecutorial reform we must pursue, and this amendment will serve as a minimum safeguard."
At the Democratic Party's caucus meeting that day, remarks about the need for supplementary investigation powers came one after another. At the closed-door caucus, Rep. Ko argued, "Partial retention is necessary only for cases where sexual violence crimes occur or where socially vulnerable people such as persons with disabilities become victims," while Rep. Lee So-young said, "Only by verifying cases through multiple rounds of supplementary investigation can we have a just criminal justice system."
However, it remains uncertain whether such opinions will be reflected in actual discussions on amending the Criminal Procedure Act. Democratic Party lawmakers on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee drew a line on the possibility of partially retaining supplementary investigation powers, saying they are pursuing the amendment on the premise of abolishing them.
Han Byung-do, acting party leader and floor leader, said, "I am well aware that various concerns are being raised in some quarters," adding, "If necessary, I will convene an additional policy caucus and gather consensus." The Democratic Party decided to hold a policy caucus next week, including experts, centered on the full abolition of supplementary investigation powers, to seek ways to minimize side effects.
Meanwhile, the People Power Party decided to make an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act retaining supplementary investigation powers its official position. Floor leader Jeong Jom-sik said, "If prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers are abolished, even the minimum check to prevent police from conducting shoddy investigations and abusing investigative powers could be neutralized," adding, "Supplementary investigation powers are a system to protect the people's rights and prevent wronged victims from emerging." Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok argued, "If all investigative powers are concentrated in the police, a monster police force will be born."
