Following the passage of a criminal procedure law amendment on July 31 that includes the abolition of supplementary investigation rights and the expansion of grounds for dismissing charges, political parties are engaged in a heated debate. On August 3, the Democratic Party held a national briefing on the amendment at the National Assembly, while the People Power Party convened an on-site meeting in front of the Blue House to rally public opinion.
The Democratic Party asserted that the amendment decentralizes investigative and prosecutorial powers, institutionalizing checks and balances between the police and the prosecution. They claim this will create a fairer criminal justice system and provide adequate protections for victims.
Han Byung-do, the acting leader of the Democratic Party, stated, "Prosecutors will focus on filing and maintaining charges, while investigations will be solely handled by investigative agencies. This prevents the passing of cases between agencies and enhances the protection of victims' rights."
The party also announced the formation of a task force led by Kim Han-kyu, the deputy floor leader, to protect the rights of vulnerable groups. They plan to amend relevant laws by the end of the month to ensure that all cases involving seven major crimes against vulnerable populations, such as sexual violence and abuse of the elderly and children, are prosecuted.
Additionally, they clarified that the proposed law is unrelated to the trial of President Lee Jae-myung. An acting leader criticized the People Power Party for dragging the president's trial into the debate, calling it an irresponsible political attack that incites public anxiety and attempts to reverse prosecutorial reform.
Kim Seung-won, the ruling party's representative on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, emphasized that everyone knows a sitting president cannot be tried while in office, stating, "No one could have imagined revising the law for something that will happen four years from now."
In contrast, the People Power Party warned that the implementation of the amendment could undermine the judicial system and leave crime victims unprotected, reiterating their call for President Lee to exercise his veto power. They are also preparing additional measures, including a constitutional appeal.
Jang Dong-hyuk, the party leader, stated at the on-site meeting, "When the amendment abolishing supplementary investigation rights was declared passed, it was a death sentence for the Republic of Korea. Despite widespread opposition from the legal community and the public, the Democratic Party insists it is a better law."
He added, "Exercising the veto is not just a choice for the president; it is a mandate from the people and history. If he refuses, the voices demanding a retrial and impeachment will grow louder."
The Reform Party also expressed opposition to the amendment, aligning with the People Power Party. They conducted an urgent opinion poll through a reform research institute, surveying 1,013 men and women aged 18 and older. The results showed that 59.6% believe President Lee should exercise his veto, while only 34.0% support enacting the law without a veto. Additionally, 64.0% of respondents believe the amendment will worsen conditions for criminal investigations. This poll was conducted using a 100% automated response system (ARS) with random digit dialing (RDD), and the margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
In this context, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the Reform Party, remarked, "The conflict with the prosecution is a private matter for the Democratic Party, but the criminal justice system concerns all citizens. While the National Assembly passed the bill, the ultimate responsibility for not stopping it will fall on the president."
The Democratic Party asserted that the amendment decentralizes investigative and prosecutorial powers, institutionalizing checks and balances between the police and the prosecution. They claim this will create a fairer criminal justice system and provide adequate protections for victims.
Han Byung-do, the acting leader of the Democratic Party, stated, "Prosecutors will focus on filing and maintaining charges, while investigations will be solely handled by investigative agencies. This prevents the passing of cases between agencies and enhances the protection of victims' rights."
The party also announced the formation of a task force led by Kim Han-kyu, the deputy floor leader, to protect the rights of vulnerable groups. They plan to amend relevant laws by the end of the month to ensure that all cases involving seven major crimes against vulnerable populations, such as sexual violence and abuse of the elderly and children, are prosecuted.
Additionally, they clarified that the proposed law is unrelated to the trial of President Lee Jae-myung. An acting leader criticized the People Power Party for dragging the president's trial into the debate, calling it an irresponsible political attack that incites public anxiety and attempts to reverse prosecutorial reform.
Kim Seung-won, the ruling party's representative on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, emphasized that everyone knows a sitting president cannot be tried while in office, stating, "No one could have imagined revising the law for something that will happen four years from now."
In contrast, the People Power Party warned that the implementation of the amendment could undermine the judicial system and leave crime victims unprotected, reiterating their call for President Lee to exercise his veto power. They are also preparing additional measures, including a constitutional appeal.
Jang Dong-hyuk, the party leader, stated at the on-site meeting, "When the amendment abolishing supplementary investigation rights was declared passed, it was a death sentence for the Republic of Korea. Despite widespread opposition from the legal community and the public, the Democratic Party insists it is a better law."
He added, "Exercising the veto is not just a choice for the president; it is a mandate from the people and history. If he refuses, the voices demanding a retrial and impeachment will grow louder."
The Reform Party also expressed opposition to the amendment, aligning with the People Power Party. They conducted an urgent opinion poll through a reform research institute, surveying 1,013 men and women aged 18 and older. The results showed that 59.6% believe President Lee should exercise his veto, while only 34.0% support enacting the law without a veto. Additionally, 64.0% of respondents believe the amendment will worsen conditions for criminal investigations. This poll was conducted using a 100% automated response system (ARS) with random digit dialing (RDD), and the margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
In this context, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the Reform Party, remarked, "The conflict with the prosecution is a private matter for the Democratic Party, but the criminal justice system concerns all citizens. While the National Assembly passed the bill, the ultimate responsibility for not stopping it will fall on the president."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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