Jung Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party, stated on June 12 that there has been no internal discussion regarding the complete abolition of supplementary investigation authority. This comes as President Lee Jae-myung has indicated that the issue will be left to the National Assembly as part of prosecutorial reform, highlighting a communication gap within the party.
During a press briefing at the National Assembly, spokesperson Lee Joo-hee remarked, "There are currently no discussions taking place regarding the abolition of supplementary investigation authority within the party."
She added, "While discussions may occur at an appropriate time, there are no plans for that yet." Lee pointed out that the party is currently focused on pressing issues, including the investigation into the Election Commission and preparations for the confirmation hearing of Prime Minister nominee Han Seung-soo, making it difficult to prioritize discussions on supplementary investigation authority at this time.
Lee emphasized the need to gather various opinions, both from the advisory committee on prosecutorial reform and from within and outside the party, stating, "Since this involves changing the criminal procedure law, we will keep multiple options open."
Kang Jun-hyun, the party's chief spokesperson, also noted that there has not been sufficient communication regarding Jung's message, adding, "There will be ample deliberation among the party's leadership in the future."
Some observers have reacted to Jung's emphasis on party unity while simultaneously urging caution regarding supplementary investigation authority, suggesting a disconnect with President Lee's stance.
In response, Kang stated, "There may be personal interpretations, but for now, it would be best to focus on pressing matters such as the Election Commission situation, the Prime Minister's confirmation hearing, and economic issues."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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