Jo Kuk and Kim Nam-hee clash over prosecutor's investigative powers

A public dispute has erupted between Jo Kuk, former leader of the New Future Party, and Kim Nam-hee, a Democratic Party lawmaker, concerning prosecutorial powers, specifically the scope of supplementary investigation rights and the potential revival of prosecutors' direct investigative authority. The debate highlights deep divisions within the opposition bloc regarding judicial reform.

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Prosecutors must be given broad direct supplementary investigation powers beyond the right to request supplementary investigations.

Jo Kuk criticized Kim Nam-hee and other Democratic Party lawmakers for what he termed an "unprincipled and chaotic move." He pointed out their shift from advocating for broad direct supplementary investigation powers for prosecutors to now supporting the abolition of these powers while pushing for the revival of the "full investigation referral" system, which was abolished during the Moon Jae-in administration.

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The Democratic Party lawmakers who insisted on broad direct supplementary investigation powers are now suddenly accepting the abolition of direct supplementary investigation powers and instead advocating for the revival of the full investigation referral system.

Kim Nam-hee, who proposed legislation to abolish supplementary investigation rights and introduce the full investigation referral principle, retaliated by questioning Jo Kuk's past statements. She cited a YouTube broadcast where Jo Kuk expressed support for supplementary investigations under limited conditions, asking if his current stance was "empty talk." She accused him of suddenly pressuring the Democratic Party, portraying supplementary investigation rights as the "last bastion of prosecutorial reform."

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Was Representative Jo Kuk's statement that supplementary investigation rights should naturally be recognized, empty talk?

Jo Kuk clarified his position, stating that while he previously acknowledged the possibility of supplementary investigations within extremely limited scopes, such as imminent statutes of limitations or repeated non-compliance with supplementary investigation requests, he does not agree with the broad scope proposed by Kim Nam-hee's bill. He emphasized that, regardless of his personal views, he adheres to the New Future Party's official stance of abolishing supplementary investigation rights. The controversy also involves a debate over establishing a "joint response headquarters" within local prosecution offices to grant prosecutors supervisory authority, a move Jo Kuk claims would revive the abolished investigative powers, while Kim Nam-hee denies its inclusion in her proposed legislation.

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I have stated that supplementary investigations can be recognized within extremely limited scopes, such as imminent statutes of limitations or non-compliance with supplementary investigation requests.