Byungdo Han Denounces People Power Party's Claims on 'Criminal Procedure Act Veto' as False Agitation

"Dragging the President into the Dismissal of Indictment Clause Spreads Malicious Rumors"

Byungdo Han, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly condemned the People Power Party for criticizing the inclusion of a dismissal of indictment clause in the amended Criminal Procedure Act on August 3, 2026, stating, "I firmly denounce these false agitations."

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the same day, Acting Leader Han remarked, "The People Power Party not only stirs up public anxiety by making it seem as though prosecutors cannot take any supplementary actions, but is now spreading malicious rumors involving even President Lee Jaemyung over the dismissal of indictment clause."

Byungdo Han, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on August 3, 2026. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

The People Power Party is scheduled to visit the presidential office today to urge the exercise of the reconsideration right (veto) regarding the amended Criminal Procedure Act, which centers on abolishing the right to supplementary investigation.

Acting Leader Han criticized, "Instead of welcoming the president who has just returned from an overseas trip, they are holding a protest-type Supreme Council meeting in front of the presidential office and announcing plans to file a constitutional appeal—this is utterly absurd."

He continued, "It is simply untrue to claim that the prosecutor’s constitutional right to request a warrant is equivalent to the prosecutor's right to directly investigate. The Constitutional Court already determined in 2023 that the prosecutor’s warrant application right, as defined in Articles 12 and 16 of the Constitution, does not presuppose a right to investigate. The adjustment and allocation of investigation authority are legislative matters for the National Assembly."

He further commented, "Trying to distort reality by portraying a prosecutor’s direct investigation authority—which is not guaranteed by the Constitution—as if it were a constitutional right is misleading. Claiming that the policy of transferring all cases involving socially disadvantaged victims is a violation of equality is also illogical."

He asked, "How could reasonable protective measures that take into account the vulnerability of victims and the nature of such crimes possibly infringe on anyone’s right to equality? Protecting the rights and interests of the socially disadvantaged is a natural duty of the state," he emphasized.

Acting Leader Han also stated, "Arguments over the dismissal of indictments represent a clear distortion of facts. Linking a mechanism designed to protect citizens from the arbitrary exercise of public authority to the president’s legal cases is a baseless political attack."

In this context, the Democratic Party of Korea will hold a ‘Criminal Procedure Act Amendment Public Briefing’ this afternoon. As concerns over protection of crime victims and potential investigative gaps have grown following the passage of the amended law in the National Assembly on July 31, party leadership appears to be taking direct action.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party announced plans to send an official letter to the Korean Bar Association, requesting recommendations for special inspector candidates, after consultations with the People Power Party. The party intends to complete the appointment process within this month. Previously, the Democratic Party recommended attorney Choi Gilsu while the People Power Party nominated attorney Kang Jisik for the special inspector position.

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