Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Justification for 'Abolishing the Prosecutors' Office' at Public Prosecution Office's First Parliamentary Audit

Opposition "Investigative Capabilities Will Weaken"
Ruling Party "Preventing Abuse of Prosecutorial Power"

At the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's first parliamentary audit since the launch of the Public Prosecution Office, held on October 19 and focused on the Seoul Metropolitan Public Prosecution Office and other agencies, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over whether abolishing the Prosecutors' Office was justified. The People Power Party voiced concerns that investigative capabilities would weaken, while the Democratic Party of Korea emphasized the need for the Public Prosecution Office.

Park Cheolwoo, chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, answers lawmakers' questions during a parliamentary audit of the Seoul Metropolitan Prosecution Office (formerly the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office) and other agencies at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 19th. Yonhap News Agency

People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Gyutaek told witness Park Cheolwoo, chief of the Seoul Central District Public Prosecution Office, "If the investigative capabilities were unilaterally stripped away when the name was changed to the Public Prosecution Office for political reasons, regardless of the public's hopes, I believe those who had served in the Prosecutors' Office for more than 20 years should have stepped down."

He added, "The issue will come up again when the Public Prosecution Office declines to indict in cases where charges should be filed," and pointed out that "the most prominent example is the decision made in the case involving Kim Seung-won, a former candidate for Minister of Justice."

Opposition party ranking member Park Hyungsoo said, "You have now become prosecutors with only half your former powers," adding, "As someone who was a junior to many of you in the prosecution service, and as a politician, I feel sorry that I could not prevent this situation."

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Yongmin said, "Reducing the function of giving Kim Keon-hee preferential treatment and the function of manipulating cases will have positive effects going forward." He added, "The Prosecutors' Office's arrogant attitude in the past - manipulating cases and saying, 'We did nothing wrong, and there is nothing to apologize for,' even when victims died - remains unchanged to this day."

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Gipy o argued, "The Public Prosecution Office has not been stripped of its power simply because it no longer has the authority to conduct supplementary investigations. Rather, the authority to request supplementary investigations, the power to indict, and the authority to maintain prosecutions are all significant powers."

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