Moon voices support for compromise bill on prosecutorial reform

President Moon Jae-in smiles during a meeting with reporters at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae

Outgoing president asks for proper evaluation of his term in office

By Nam Hyun-woo

President Moon Jae-in said Monday he supports the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) efforts to separate the prosecution's powers to lead investigations and indict suspects and added that a compromise bill agreed by the DPK and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is desirable.

“You probably know that I support separating the prosecution's powers to lead investigations and indict suspects,” Moon said during a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae.

“Even if it is appropriate, its process should be able to win the public's support and understanding. In this regard, I believe the recent agreement between the rival parties, arranged by National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, is desirable,” he added.

Moon's comments came hours after the PPP withdrew its endorsement of the compromise version of the controversial prosecutorial reform bill it agreed to previously with the DPK, citing sections of the proposal that would restrict prosecutors from investigating election crimes and violations involving public servants.

Initially, the DPK attempted to pass a bill stripping prosecutors of their investigative powers on crimes involving corruption, economic affairs, government employees, elections, the defense industry and major accidents that take the lives of many people.

However, the ruling party faced strong objections from the PPP and the prosecution, as well as doubts that the party is seeking to protect the outgoing president and former DPK presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung from possible investigations.

After spending a month confronting each other, the DPK and the PPP agreed to the compromise bill proposed by the Assembly speaker on Friday. But the PPP reversed its stance following disagreements within the party and President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's indirect expression of concerns.

“President-elect Yoon asked politicians to think seriously about constitutional values and people's livelihoods, and then pool their wisdom,” Yoon's spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin said Monday.

Bae said Yoon is unable to express his opinion on the issue from a partisan perspective, but added that “politics cannot beat the public” and that Yoon believes “the massive ruling party (the DPK) will not force through legislation while ignoring public concerns.”

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with reporters at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Yonhap

But Moon said separating the prosecution's powers on investigation and indictment will “help prosecutors to focus on important matters.”

“If the compromise bill is passed, the prosecution will retain its investigative powers on corruption and economic crimes,” Moon said. “On crimes that prosecutors do not directly investigate, they can demand additional (police) investigations during the process of reviewing warrants and indictments.”

The press conference was held to mark five years of Moon's presidency, which will end on March 9. During his speech, Moon said his presidency will mark the end of the “Cheong Wa Dae era,” but stressed that it should not be described as “a resolution of wrongdoings.”

President-elect Yoon plans to relocate the presidential office to the defense ministry compound in Yongsan District, Seoul, and open Cheong Wa Dae to the public.

“If someone describes the end of Cheong Wa Dae as marking the end of a negative history of the presidential office, I think that is a distortion of Korea's history and achievements,” Moon said.

“When you see Korea's history from President Rhee Syngman (the first president of Korea from 1948 to 1960), it is the most successful country since World War II … If someone believes Korea's history is something we need to resolve or change, that is an inappropriate view.”

Regarding questions on presidential pardons for jailed former President Lee Myung-bak, former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyoung-soo and other politicians and business tycoons, Moon said, “A pardon is not a right that the president can exercise as he wishes.” He added, “It should only be exercised when it complements justice.”

When asked about his intention to serve any role related to inter-Korean relations after leaving the office, Moon said he “wants to live as a citizen” and that his “current plan is to do nothing.”