South Korea ruling party vows safeguards on prosecution bill

July 10 (Asia Today) -- Han Byung-do, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, said Friday the ruling party recognizes concerns over its plan to abolish prosecutors' supplementary investigative authority and will prepare stronger safeguards during legislative review.

Han made the remarks during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly.

"The Criminal Procedure Act revision bill submitted yesterday will be the final piece of prosecutorial reform," Han said. "Along with abolishing supplementary investigative authority, we expect investigative agencies to divide their roles and strengthen expertise."

"The Democratic Party is also aware of concerns raised by some," he said. "We will prepare stronger complementary measures through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee review."

Han said the party would make every effort to design detailed measures to minimize public inconvenience so the new system can launch stably on Oct. 2.

"We will complete prosecutorial reform for the people, not for powerful institutions, by upholding the principle of separating investigation and prosecution," he said.

Han also said the party would seek to determine the truth behind what it called poor election management by the National Election Commission through a special counsel investigation.

"The Democratic Party introduced a special counsel bill yesterday, and the National Election Commission is a constitutionally independent institution," Han said. "But independence must not become a shield for avoiding responsibility."

Han said the scope of the investigation should include why ballot paper supplies were reduced, how reports were omitted and whether there was internal corruption at the election agency.

Han also welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling on former President Yoon Suk Yeol's obstruction of arrest case, saying it reaffirmed judicial justice.

"It is the first final ruling 583 days after the Dec. 3 illegal martial law declaration," Han said. "Following the appellate court, the Supreme Court also sentenced him to seven years and recognized the gravity of the crime. The ruling sends a warning by reaffirming the principle of judicial justice that those who commit crimes must be punished."

Han said the judiciary should move quickly on Yoon's remaining trials.

"This is only the beginning," he said. "The judiciary must also speed up Yoon Suk Yeol's remaining trials. In particular, he should be judged with the maximum sentence allowed by law on the charge of leading an insurrection."

"Legal responsibility must be imposed so that the tragedy of insurrection is never repeated on this land," Han said.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260710010003838

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