Han Byung-do, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said Monday the party would push through an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act in a plenary session this week, pledging to work until the end to ensure a people-centered criminal justice system takes stable root by Oct. 2.
Han made the remarks at a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly, calling the bill "the final piece of the puzzle in prosecution reform."
Han said the party had adopted the amendment as its official position at a general assembly of lawmakers, with the complete separation of investigation and indictment as its core principle. "In the process, the Democratic Party has developed policy alternatives to expand victim protections and strengthen mutual checks on investigative agencies," he said.
Turning to the People Power Party, Han said the opposition had "spewed outrageous remarks calling the bill a bargaining chip" and was stoking public anxiety with what he called a bizarre argument that preserving prosecutors' investigative powers was necessary to protect people's lives and safety.
"It is nothing more or less than irresponsible false agitation," he said. "It was none other than the People Power Party that boycotted the National Assembly for nearly two months, abandoned the livelihoods of the people, and refused to take part in discussions on the criminal procedure bill. I hope the People Power Party realizes that putting partisan interests ahead of the nation's future and the people's welfare is nothing short of betraying the country."
Han said the Democratic Party's principle was simple: prosecutors who indict should not investigate. "Prosecution reform is not an empty slogan," he said. "It is a historic task and a mission of our time to build a criminal justice system that truly belongs to the people."
Han also announced plans to revise the National Assembly Act to ensure that the filibuster — a legally permitted unlimited debate procedure used to obstruct proceedings — and the fast-track designation system for priority bills operate as originally intended.
"The systems designed to protect minority votes are being abused to paralyze the Assembly and delay legislation affecting people's livelihoods," he said, adding that the fast-track process now takes up to 330 days and has drawn criticism as a "slow track."
Han went on to say the party would fully activate all standing committees to support economic recovery and advance the Lee Jae Myung government's policy agenda. "We will revise the National Assembly Act to speed up and improve the efficiency of legislation for people's livelihoods, and we will make the Assembly a working body that delivers results the public can feel," he said.
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