July 2 (Asia Today) — The South Korean National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee held its first plenary meeting of the second half of the parliamentary term Thursday without members of the main opposition People Power Party.

The committee approved the appointment of former judge Kim Seung-won as the ruling Democratic Party’s chief committee representative and voted to establish a bill review subcommittee.

Only lawmakers from the Democratic Party, Rebuilding Korea Party and Progressive Party attended the meeting.

People Power Party lawmakers boycotted the session after submitting resignations from all parliamentary standing committees. The move followed the Democratic Party-led election Tuesday of the chairs of 10 standing committees and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts.

The first bill review subcommittee will consist of five Democratic Party lawmakers, three People Power Party lawmakers and one member from a smaller party. It will review legislation under the judiciary committee’s jurisdiction, including revisions to the Criminal Procedure Act.

Committee Chair Seo Young-kyo directed the ruling and opposition parties to submit their lists of subcommittee members by Monday.

“If the lists are not submitted by the deadline, I will consider that the parties have no opinion and the chair may appoint the subcommittee members under the National Assembly Act,” Seo said.

Seo said another plenary meeting will be held Tuesday to finalize the subcommittee membership, appoint the People Power Party’s chief committee representative and place about 100 pending bills on the agenda.

The legislation will include about 50 bills under the judiciary committee’s direct jurisdiction and another 50 forwarded by other standing committees.

“We will operate the subcommittees and plenary committee every week to pass reform legislation and bills related to people’s livelihoods,” Seo said.

Seo also said a proposed revision to the Criminal Procedure Act that would eliminate prosecutors’ authority to conduct supplementary investigations will be referred to a subcommittee next week.

“The government and the ruling party have agreed to completely resolve the issue of supplementary investigative authority,” Seo said. “However, various procedural safeguards are necessary, so we will sufficiently gather opinions.”

The question of whether prosecutors should be allowed to conduct additional investigations after police refer a case has remained a central issue in the government’s restructuring of South Korea’s criminal justice system.

Seo said lawmakers must act quickly because the laws establishing the Public Prosecution Office and Serious Crimes Investigation Agency are scheduled to take effect Oct. 2.

“Some say even August would be too late, so we will move as quickly as possible,” Seo said.

The two agencies are scheduled to replace the existing prosecution service under legislation enacted as part of the government’s effort to separate investigative and prosecutorial functions.

Kim said after his appointment that the committee would complete efforts to reform the prosecution and judiciary.

“If the People Power Party has a different opinion, it should promptly submit its list of judiciary committee members and participate openly in the debate,” Kim said.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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