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Rep. Park Jie-won of the Democratic Party speaks during a public lecture on national affairs. / Yonhap

Rep. Park Jie-won of the Democratic Party said Monday that the party’s prosecution reform plan would abolish the prosecution service under the Government Organization Act and divide its functions into a new Major Crimes Investigation Office (Jungsucheong) and a separate Indictment Office (Gisocheong).

Speaking on SBS Radio’s Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show, Park said, “Fundamentally, separating investigation and indictment powers has already been agreed upon by President Lee Jae-myung and Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho.” He added that the investigation body would be placed under the interior minister. “As I understand it, the Government Organization Act will remove the prosecution service entirely, with the two new agencies split accordingly,” he explained.

Park said the question of jurisdiction had been settled after coordination between Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and the justice and interior ministries. “It has been decided that the Major Crimes Investigation Office will be placed under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety,” he said.

He urged swift action, remarking, “It’s unwise to hesitate on this reform. When the tide is high, you must row. A blacksmith also strikes the iron when it’s hot. We must not miss this chance for prosecution reform.”

On recent remarks by Im Eun-jung, head prosecutor at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office, who criticized the justice minister for being “captured by the prosecution,” Park offered support: “It was the right point to make, and a fair one—not insubordination.”

On the proposal for a special tribunal to handle rebellion-related cases, Park noted that discussions had taken place in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee but the party leadership had yet to decide. Still, he stressed the urgency: “The rebellion trials are dragging on, and in particular the court’s dismissal of the arrest warrant for Han Deok-soo, deputy leader of the rebellion, shows why a special tribunal is needed to ensure strict and swift proceedings for the sake of the people and the nation.”