By Jun Ji-hye
The Moon Jae-in government is determined to create a separate body to investigate and indict high-level public officials and their family members involved in corruption cases, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk said Monday.
Cho said the creation of such a body with independent investigative power will be the symbol of the reform of the prosecution that is long accused of being swayed by politics.
"It is time to finalize a plan to set up the new investigation body," Cho said during his appearance at a three-way meeting between Cheong Wa Dae, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the government, held at the National Assembly.
"Reforming the prosecution is the first among a pile of tasks facing the Moon government to eradicate deep-rooted evils," Cho said.
It is rare for the presidential secretary for civil affairs to attend the three-way meeting, the party officials said, noting that it reflected the Moon administration's strong determination to establish the new body and overhaul the state prosecution.
Justice Minister Park Sang-ki and DPK floor leader Rep. Woo Won-shik as well as Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon, the DPK's chief policymaker, were present at the meeting.
After the meeting, Rep. Kim told reporters that Cheong Wa Dae, the government and the ruling party reached an agreement to do its best to pass relevant bills to create the new body.
"We will carefully listen to concerns raised by some over the political neutrality and independence of the new investigative body," Kim said. "In-depth discussions will be conducted during the Assembly's examination of the bills."
During his presidential campaign, Moon vowed to stamp out irregularities in ranking public servants and their family members.
The pledge received support following the massive corruption and influence-peddling scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye and high-ranking government officials who were previously lawmakers or prosecutors. Park was removed from office due to the scandal in March and is currently standing trial.
Among those involved in the scandal was Woo Byung-woo, former prosecutor who later served as Park's secretary for civil affairs. The prosecution at the time was under fire for allegedly being politicized in favor of the government in its investigation into the scandal.
Cho mentioned this, saying that "politically motivated" prosecutors obtained high posts through connection under the Park government.
"President Moon has called for the creation of the body and declared people surrounding him and even himself could be the subject of the investigation of such a body," Cho said.
The former Roh Moo-hyun government also sought to create the independent investigative body to reform the prosecution, but to no avail due to strong protest from prosecutors at the time. President Moon was chief of staff for the late Roh.
To push for the establishment of the body, the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee plans to discuss pending bills Tuesday, including one submitted by Rep. Park Beom-kye, a DPK Supreme Council member.
Park's bill calls for creating a body comprised of up to 20 special prosecutors who have authority to investigate former presidents, a Supreme Court chief justice, a prosecutor general and lawmakers.
Rep. Park said the committee will examine four bills to see if they can be combined.
"The main opposition Liberty Korea Party should cooperate in creating a proper body," Park said during the party meeting.
The Moon Jae-in government is determined to create a separate body to investigate and indict high-level public officials and their family members involved in corruption cases, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk said Monday.
Cho said the creation of such a body with independent investigative power will be the symbol of the reform of the prosecution that is long accused of being swayed by politics.
"It is time to finalize a plan to set up the new investigation body," Cho said during his appearance at a three-way meeting between Cheong Wa Dae, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the government, held at the National Assembly.
"Reforming the prosecution is the first among a pile of tasks facing the Moon government to eradicate deep-rooted evils," Cho said.
It is rare for the presidential secretary for civil affairs to attend the three-way meeting, the party officials said, noting that it reflected the Moon administration's strong determination to establish the new body and overhaul the state prosecution.
Justice Minister Park Sang-ki and DPK floor leader Rep. Woo Won-shik as well as Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon, the DPK's chief policymaker, were present at the meeting.
After the meeting, Rep. Kim told reporters that Cheong Wa Dae, the government and the ruling party reached an agreement to do its best to pass relevant bills to create the new body.
"We will carefully listen to concerns raised by some over the political neutrality and independence of the new investigative body," Kim said. "In-depth discussions will be conducted during the Assembly's examination of the bills."
During his presidential campaign, Moon vowed to stamp out irregularities in ranking public servants and their family members.
The pledge received support following the massive corruption and influence-peddling scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye and high-ranking government officials who were previously lawmakers or prosecutors. Park was removed from office due to the scandal in March and is currently standing trial.
Among those involved in the scandal was Woo Byung-woo, former prosecutor who later served as Park's secretary for civil affairs. The prosecution at the time was under fire for allegedly being politicized in favor of the government in its investigation into the scandal.
Cho mentioned this, saying that "politically motivated" prosecutors obtained high posts through connection under the Park government.
"President Moon has called for the creation of the body and declared people surrounding him and even himself could be the subject of the investigation of such a body," Cho said.
The former Roh Moo-hyun government also sought to create the independent investigative body to reform the prosecution, but to no avail due to strong protest from prosecutors at the time. President Moon was chief of staff for the late Roh.
To push for the establishment of the body, the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee plans to discuss pending bills Tuesday, including one submitted by Rep. Park Beom-kye, a DPK Supreme Council member.
Park's bill calls for creating a body comprised of up to 20 special prosecutors who have authority to investigate former presidents, a Supreme Court chief justice, a prosecutor general and lawmakers.
Rep. Park said the committee will examine four bills to see if they can be combined.
"The main opposition Liberty Korea Party should cooperate in creating a proper body," Park said during the party meeting.
![[INTERVIEW] How AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/4431833759c44bdaa414cb314e90f2fe.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
