Calls for caution on abolishing supplementary investigation rights are spreading even within the ruling party
Controversy over abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights; the Democratic Party also emphasizes the need for checks on the police The investigative gap exposed by the Jang Yoon-gi case, see the key issues in the party's discussion of the revision bill
Following the Jang Yoongi case, in which evidence concealment by the police and signs of internal collusion were revealed, voices are emerging even within the Democratic Party of Korea saying that caution is needed regarding the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigative authority.
Some Democratic Party lawmakers agreed with the party line to eliminate supplementary investigative authority, but emphasized that safeguards to check police investigations and complementary measures must be put in place together. In particular, they pointed out the need for mechanisms to prevent cases like this one, where charges missed by the police are discovered belatedly.
The Democratic Party's task force on revising the Criminal Procedure Act is expected to propose an amendment this week centered on abolishing supplementary investigative authority. Within the party, there is also a growing sentiment that ahead of the party convention, this issue should not be viewed simply as a matter of for or against, but that investigative responsibility and control measures should be discussed together.