The Democratic Party said Friday it will pass a prosecution reform bill, an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act that includes abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority, before its Aug. 17 national convention. The move came to quell speculation within the party that the supplementary investigation issue could be handed over to the next party leadership after the convention.
Kim Han-kyu, the Democratic Party's chief deputy floor leader for policy, met with reporters at the National Assembly the same day and said of the timing for handling the Criminal Procedure Act amendment: "There is no need to drag it out until after the national convention. We have no intention of delaying it." He added, "A significant number of party members, supporters, and lawmakers hold the position that the supplementary investigation authority should be abolished," and that "the situation is not one where internal disagreements are so large that the debate must be reopened."
Regarding the delay in the related schedule, he stressed his commitment to early handling once again, saying, "Because the volume is large, it physically takes time, and since it is an extremely important issue, we simultaneously have a sense that it must be reviewed with precision, so it takes some time." He added, "Han Byung-do, the acting Democratic Party leader and floor leader, plans to speak directly about this part again soon."
The Democratic Party has formed a Criminal Procedure Act amendment task force (TF) centered on Kim, along with Park Sang-hyuk, vice chairman of the party's policy committee, and Kim Seung-won, secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and is drafting the amendment that includes abolishing the supplementary investigation authority.
