As a criminal procedure law amendment that fully abolishes the supplementary investigation rights of prosecutors passed the National Assembly, former top prosecutors are urging President Yoon Suk Yeol to exercise his veto power.
The Prosecutors' Association, led by former Prosecutor General Han Sang-dae, issued a statement on August 2, condemning the Democratic Party's "legislative dictatorship" for passing the amendment.
They criticized, "Despite opposition from the Minister of Justice, the prosecution, concerns from the Supreme Court, and the President's expressed dissent, the Democratic Party rushed to pass the amendment that abolishes prosecutors' investigative powers. This is an act of arrogance and obsession by the ruling party, disregarding the grievances and concerns of crime victims, as well as overwhelming public opposition, without proper deliberation and discussion."
The statement continued, "Who will be responsible for the numerous adverse effects and chaos that may arise from this, and how will it be resolved? The President must exercise his veto power based on his convictions. The Constitutional Court should also rule this as unconstitutional in the future."
The Prosecutors' Association, which includes former high-ranking prosecutors, has been vocal on major judicial issues. They stated that if the President does not exercise his veto, they will continue to fight in solidarity with conscientious legal professionals and victim groups.
The criminal procedure law amendment, which passed the National Assembly on July 31 under the leadership of the Democratic Party, completely separates investigation and prosecution, prohibiting direct investigations by prosecutors and allowing only requests for supplementary investigations to the police.
As a result, the investigative powers of prosecutors, which have been a cornerstone of the criminal justice system since the enactment of the criminal procedure law in 1954, have effectively disappeared. Following the passage of the bill, Acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyun expressed his deep sense of responsibility and submitted his resignation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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