Opposition Protests Passage of Criminal Procedure Act Abolishing Supplementary Investigation Authority... "President Lee Should Exercise Veto"

Jeong Jeomsik: "We will mobilize all measures, including a constitutional petition, to block this"

The opposition has strongly objected after the National Assembly passed an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act that abolishes prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority. The People Power Party called on President Lee Jaemyung to exercise his right to request reconsideration (veto), and announced that it would make every effort to block the legislation—including pursuing a constitutional challenge and all possible legal measures.

On July 31, the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act—centered on abolishing the prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority—passed the National Assembly's plenary session under the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea and other allied ruling bloc parties.

Immediately after the filibuster ended, Jeong Jeomsik, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated, "If the President wishes to avoid the stigma of this bill being labeled as the 'Lee Jaemyung prison break law,' he should exercise his right to request reconsideration." He continued, "The People Power Party will mobilize every available means—including filing a constitutional challenge—to abolish this unjust law."

Jung Jeongsik, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is expressing his position regarding the passage of the Criminal Procedure Act amendment at the National Assembly. Photo by Yonhap News

Floor leader Jeong specifically took issue with a new provision in the amendment regarding requirements for the court’s dismissal of indictments. He argued, "Anyone can see this is tailored legislation designed for President Lee Jaemyung, whose trial is currently suspended." He claimed, "Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae’s term ends next June, and the President will have the authority to appoint as many as 22 justices during his term. This amounts to securing both the laws and judges needed to remove his own judicial risks."

Choi Eunseok, the People Power Party's chief spokesperson in the National Assembly, also criticized, "The amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act is a bill tainted by a political vendetta rooted in victim mentality, swapping dismissal of prosecution for withdrawal of indictment in the name of 'self-pardon' for a single president." He argued, "The Democratic Party, which ultimately forced this through, must take full responsibility for the consequences."

Criticism came from opposition lawmakers as well. Han Donghoon, an independent lawmaker, asserted, "The bill for dismissal of prosecutions, which the Democratic Party forced through, is blatantly designed for President Lee Jaemyung" and said, "For a president under criminal trial to order his subordinates to pass a law for dismissing charges against himself is a clear conflict of interest among public officials."

Kim Jungcheol, a top committee member of the Reform New Party, raised concerns about a provision requiring prosecutors to request post-search and seizure warrants from the court exactly as submitted by the police. He claimed, "This renders prosecutors' authority to request warrants meaningless" and insisted, "It is unconstitutional the moment it takes effect."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.