Opposition to abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation power, which the Democratic Party is pursuing, significantly outweighs support for the move, a survey found.
Gallup Korea polled 1,003 people aged 18 and older nationwide from the 14th to the 16th on whether the supplementary investigation power should be retained or scrapped, and 61% of respondents said it should be "maintained," the polling firm said on the 17th. Respondents cited reasons such as "keeping the police in check and preventing botched investigations." Only 23% said it should be "completely abolished."
Even among Democratic Party supporters, 46% said the power should be retained, exceeding the 39% who favored abolition. Among People Power Party supporters, an overwhelming 81% said it should be maintained. Moderates also viewed retention (64%) as more appropriate than abolition (23%).
Some Democratic Party lawmakers and members have argued for abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation power, in line with the principle of separating prosecution and investigation between prosecutors and police. However, as botched police investigations came under scrutiny through recent cases such as the Jang Yoon-gi case, public opinion has grown that prosecutors' supplementary investigation power is necessary.
The result contrasts with an earlier finding in which 51% of respondents, a majority, favored a prosecution reform plan to abolish the Prosecutors' Office and establish a Public Prosecution Office and a Serious Crimes Investigation Office as part of prosecution reform. Gallup Korea said, "At that time, 82% of Democratic Party supporters were in favor, but they appear less enthusiastic about the current proposal to abolish supplementary investigation power than they were then."
Meanwhile, on independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's return to the People Power Party, 28% were in favor, 37% opposed, and 35% undecided. Among People Power Party supporters, opinion was nearly evenly split at 42% in favor and 44% opposed.
On the economic outlook for the coming year, 34% were optimistic and 37% pessimistic. As for their household finances over the next year, 48% expected them to remain similar to the present, 23% expected improvement, and the remaining 26% expected them to worsen.
Gallup Korea said, "In the first six months of this year, economic optimism held a narrow edge, but this time it shifted to a narrow edge for pessimism," adding, "This appears to be due to expanding volatility in the domestic stock market, compounded by continued instability in exchange rates, oil prices, and consumer prices."
The survey was conducted through computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) using randomly selected virtual mobile phone numbers. Further details can be found on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.
