Jung Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on June 12 that he supports the "full abolition of supplementary investigation authority." However, party officials quickly clarified that this issue has not been discussed internally. President Lee Jae-myung has indicated that the matter of supplementary investigation authority, part of prosecutorial reform, will be left to the National Assembly, highlighting a communication gap within the party.
Lee Joo-hee, the party's floor spokesperson, told reporters at the National Assembly that "there is currently no discussion on the abolition of supplementary investigation authority within the party."
She added, "While it may be discussed at an appropriate time, there are no plans for it yet." With ongoing issues such as the National Election Commission investigation and the preparation for the confirmation hearing of Prime Minister nominee Han Seung-soo, the party feels it is not the right time to engage in discussions about supplementary investigation authority.
Lee emphasized the need to gather various opinions from both within and outside the party, stating, "Since this involves changing the criminal procedure law, we will keep multiple options open."
Kang Jun-hyun, the party's chief spokesperson, also noted that there has not been sufficient communication regarding Jung's message, adding that there will be thorough deliberations among the party's leadership in the future.
Some observers have pointed out that while Jung emphasizes a united front between the party and the government, he seems to be at odds with President Lee, who has urged caution regarding supplementary investigation authority.
In response, Kang stated, "There may be personal interpretations, but for now, it would be best to focus on pressing matters such as the National Election Commission situation, the Prime Minister's confirmation hearing, and economic issues related to the Middle East."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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