Democratic Party Rep. Hong Ki-won Proposes Amendment to Criminal Procedure Act Regarding Livelihood Crimes

Issues and Analysis of the Criminal Procedure Act Amendment to Strengthen Response to Livelihood Crimes

In mid-July 2026, the National Assembly is focusing legislative activities on securing the effectiveness of the criminal justice system, centering on the introduction of bills and the strengthening of personnel verification systems. In particular, the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, proposed on the 14th by Rep. Hong Ki-won of the Democratic Party of Korea, includes content that partially allows prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority, drawing attention from political circles. While the current stance within the Democratic Party leans toward completely abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation powers, Rep. Hong's bill opens the door for prosecutors to conduct direct supplementary investigations in exceptional circumstances, such as crimes targeting socially vulnerable groups or livelihood-related cases.

This move is interpreted as a realistic alternative to resolve issues of investigation delays and reduced efficiency that arose following the restructuring of the investigation system. Regarding the revision of the Criminal Procedure Act, Rep. Han Byung-do emphasized the need to simultaneously realize the values of deliberation and timely legislation. Rep. Han warned that if the People Power Party continues to ignore the normalization of the National Assembly, the Democratic Party may have to make a major decision to create a "working Assembly," suggesting a potential race for legislative speed. This is analyzed as a strategic maneuver to maintain the stability of the judicial system while minimizing harm to the public caused by investigative gaps.

Legal and political experts predict that partially permitting supplementary investigation authority could alleviate the complexity of investigative procedures. While the existing theory of complete abolition was faithful to the principle of separating investigation and prosecution powers, this amendment places emphasis on the practical benefit of swift processing of livelihood crimes. In particular, it is expected to provide a concrete basis for improving the side effect of delayed punishment caused by the back-and-forth transfer of cases between the police and prosecution, especially in incidents involving children, the disabled, and other socially vulnerable groups.

Enhancing Transparency in Personnel Verification for Public Office Candidates and Mandatory Submission of Military Records

On the 15th, People Power Party Rep. Shin Dong-wook introduced a bill aimed at strengthening the morality verification of high-ranking public office candidates. The bill mandates the explicit inclusion of military service records in the list of basic documents submitted to the National Assembly by personnel hearing subjects. Until now, despite high public interest in candidates' military service fulfillment or allegations of draft evasion during personnel hearings, verification was often delayed or derailed due to insufficient submitted materials.

Rep. Shin's proposal aims to increase the predictability of personnel verification and clearly resolve military-related suspicions regarding candidates at an early stage. Military service records contain detailed information, including service history and medical conditions from enlistment to discharge, making them far more valuable for verification than simple confirmation of service. With public scrutiny of public officials becoming increasingly strict, this is expected to serve as an institutional mechanism that can guarantee the effectiveness of personnel hearings.

Strengthening personnel verification is directly linked to the stability of state administration, going beyond merely judging individual morality. Whenever military service issues emerged as a focal point in personnel hearings, the ruling and opposition parties repeatedly engaged in wasteful political strife, often leading to delays in the appointment of ministers. If the submission of military records becomes mandatory, the filtering function to screen out unqualified candidates during the preliminary verification stage is expected to be strengthened, preventing administrative vacancies. Furthermore, this is likely to serve as a catalyst for discussions on standardizing material submissions for other personnel verification items in the future.

Economic Value of the 'National Part-Time Job Workers' Law and Welfare Legislation for Improving Youth Labor Environment

Democratic Party Rep. Jo Gyu-sik is accelerating legislative activities to protect the rights and interests of university students and young workers. The so-called "National Part-Time Job Workers' Law" proposed by Rep. Jo focuses on improving treatment for young part-time workers in university towns, such as servers and delivery personnel, and preventing industrial accidents. Highlighted in the floor leader's speech of the 22nd National Assembly, this bill reflects the policy intention to manage job instability and industrial accident risks for the youth within a legal framework.

Rep. Jo's policy package also includes practical financial support measures, such as tax credits for youth monthly rent (wol-se) and support for social insurance premiums for university students. This represents a multifaceted approach to alleviate housing and living cost burdens for young people amidst a declining school-age population and high inflation. In particular, the proposal for the "Special Act on the Application of Employment Insurance and Use of Reserves" is based on economic analysis aimed at solving youth unemployment while enhancing the efficiency of fiscal operations. Additionally, the revision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which expands the usable locations for child meal cards to accessible stores like convenience stores, presents a practical solution to address nutritional imbalances among adolescents from vulnerable groups.

Amid continued criticism that the current labor law system fails to fully cover rapidly changing platform labor and short-term employment forms, tailored legislation like the National Part-Time Job Workers' Law will serve as an important milestone in reconstructing the safety net for the youth labor market.

These legislative attempts can contribute to long-term domestic demand stimulation by maintaining the purchasing power of the youth and encouraging their entry into the labor market. Supporting young people so they can balance studies and work in a stable environment is evaluated as an efficient investment in national human capital, going beyond simply spending welfare costs. In particular, as it aligns with the policy stance of Rep. Lee Chang-soo, who has advocated for fostering local universities and expanding national scholarships, there is a possibility that youth support policies could be handled in an integrated manner during future discussions between the ruling and opposition parties.

Impact of Election Management System Reorganization and Judicial Risks on the Political Landscape

The Special Committee on the State Affairs Investigation into the Ballot Shortage Scandal of the June 3 Local Elections is locked in a fierce conflict over the disposal of 2.47 million ballots stored at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu. The Democratic Party of Korea argues that an immediate recount is necessary to restore trust in the election results, while the People Power Party counters that a precise investigation through search and seizure must take precedence following the launch of the independent counsel. The situation involving 2.47 million tied-up ballots is critically impacting the credibility of election administration, which is expected to lead to discussions on the reorganization of the National Election Commission.

Meanwhile, the proposal of the Local Council Law by Rep. Heo Jong-sik to prevent indiscriminate defections by local council members is an attempt to strengthen the accountability of local autonomy. Changing party affiliation early in a term has been criticized for distorting voter choice. If this bill is legislated, it is analyzed that the political stability of local councils will increase and the legitimacy of grassroots democracy will be strengthened. These discussions, which fill loopholes in the election system, are expected to remove political uncertainty and reduce administrative costs.

Furthermore, major judicial issues, such as the request for arrest warrants for former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung and Auditor Yoo Byung-ho by the Kwon Chang-young 2nd Independent Counsel Team, are striking the political landscape. Allegations of involvement in sedition and inappropriate intervention in the audit of the presidential residence are directly linked to the legal liability of high-ranking public officials, posing significant pressure on the future legislative environment. Depending on the results of the independent counsel's investigation, discussions on additional legislation to strengthen the functions of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Public Officials or enhance the independence of the Board of Audit and Inspection could surge. The National Assembly in the second half of 2026 faces a grave situation where it must simultaneously address the tasks of processing livelihood bills and reforming power institutions, linked to these judicial outcomes.