South Korea's PM: Government to Respect Assembly's Decision on Prosecutorial Powers

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok declared on Tuesday that the government will defer to the National Assembly's decision regarding the controversial issue of prosecutorial supplementary investigation rights. This means the administration will not put forth its own legislative proposal on whether to abolish or maintain these powers.

"The government will respect the National Assembly's discussion and decision rather than presenting a separate legislative bill," Kim stated during a press briefing at the Government Complex Seoul. He reiterated his consistent personal stance favoring the abolition of these rights, confirming that the government has finalized its basic position to abolish them after considering various opinions.

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The government will respect the National Assembly's discussion and decision rather than presenting a separate legislative bill.

Kim explained that by refraining from submitting a separate government bill, the administration hopes to allow for a more free and efficient legislative process within the National Assembly. "We judged that it would be more efficient and desirable not to submit a separate government bill, while consolidating various views within the government, to allow for the National Assembly's free discussion," he added.

The Prime Minister assured that if the National Assembly passes legislation on the matter, the government will faithfully implement the necessary follow-up measures. This approach signals a strategic move by the government to avoid directly influencing the legislative debate, allowing lawmakers to deliberate and decide on the future of prosecutorial powers independently.

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We judged that it would be more efficient and desirable not to submit a separate government bill, while consolidating various views within the government, to allow for the National Assembly's free discussion.