Kim Yong-tae, Chairperson of the People Power Party emergency committee, on the 12th, urged the immediate withdrawal of the ruling party's 'Four Bills to Dismantle the Prosecution,' aimed at abolishing the prosecution office and establishing a public prosecution office, major crime investigation office, and national investigation committee, calling them 'a law to subjugate investigative agencies to the regime.'
Chairperson Kim held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly this morning, stating, 'The so-called Four Bills to Dismantle the Prosecution Office, proposed by some members of the Democratic Party, undermine the fundamental principles of Korea's constitution, severely infringe upon the people's rights, and pose a dangerous attempt that could throw the entire criminal justice system into chaos,' asserting that 'they must be withdrawn immediately.'
He noted, 'The constitution clearly stipulates the prosecutor's warrant request authority and the appointment of the prosecutor general. This clarifies that the existence of the prosecution office is based on the constitution,' criticizing any attempt to essentially dismantle the prosecution office without amending the constitution as an 'unconstitutional mindset.'
Chairperson Kim also pointed out, 'Furthermore, the Democratic Party's proposal to dismantle and establish a national investigation committee neutralizes all institutional mechanisms designed to ensure the fairness and political neutrality of investigations.'
He criticized, 'The national investigation committee, which will have investigative command and supervision rights over the prosecution office, major crime investigation office, CIO, and the Coast Guard, allows most of its 11 commissioners to be appointed by the president and the Democratic Party, which holds legislative power,' calling it 'a law that subjugates investigative agencies to the regime rather than strengthening their independence.'
Chairperson Kim remarked, 'The fact that the Democratic Party declared its intention to pass the Four Bills to Dismantle the Prosecution Office within three months raises grave concerns,' warning that 'the resulting confusion and harm will exceed tenfold or a hundredfold that of the CIO.'
He emphasized, 'The People Power Party will not deny the necessity of genuine prosecution reform,' adding, 'However, such reform must be conducted carefully and deliberatively, respecting constitutional values, prioritizing the people's rights, and not undermining the stability of the criminal justice system,' while reiterating the urgent need to withdraw the proposed four bills.
Meanwhile, Democratic Party members Kim Yong-min, Kang Joon-hyun, Min Hyung-bae, Jang Kyung-tae, and Kim Moon-soo consecutively proposed four bills the previous day, aimed at abolishing the prosecution office and establishing a public prosecution office, major crime investigation office, and national investigation committee. The proposal includes abolishing the prosecution office, assigning the right to indict to a newly established public prosecution office under the Ministry of Justice, and allocating investigative authority to a newly established major crime investigation office under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Additionally, it outlines the creation of a national investigation committee directly under the Prime Minister to oversee the coordination, management, and supervision of these investigative bodies.