Prosecutor general Chae Dong-wook voiced his opposition Monday to a government-led reform plan that calls for the establishment of separate bodies to investigate cases involving high-profile officials, politicians and business leaders.

Instead, the new prosecution chief proposed expanding an in-house special investigative team to deal with such sensitive incidents, which are currently handled by the powerful Central Investigation Department. Another new unit also needs to be established to keep the commanding function of the CID to lower prosecution offices, he said.

“It is positively necessary to establish a new commanding unit to keep the function of the CID,” Chae said in a statement sent to lawmakers a day before his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

“For high-profile cases which (people would cast) concerns about (the prosecution’s) political neutrality and fairness, (I) will expand the existing special prosecution system that has been investigating in-house corruption,” he added.

The special prosecution system, introduced in 2010 in order to investigate a series of prosecutorial bribery scandals, offers independent and exclusive authority to prosecutors picked by the prosecutor general.

The comment came after the parliament passed the Park Geun-hye government’s overhaul proposal, which includes a major restructuring of the prosecutors’ office.

The plan calls for the abolishment of the powerful CID at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, which investigates cases involving government officials, politicians and businessmen, and has long been accused of political bias and connection.

In place of the special unit, the overhaul plan envisions the establishment of a permanent independent counsel and another new independent inspection body to deal with cases involving presidential family members and high-ranking officials.

Chae, however, criticized the plan as needing to undergo further discussion with experts and the people. On the establishment of the independent inspection body envisioned to hold a similar level of authority as the prosecution, Chae addressed concerns that the plan infringes on the principle of the separation of power and overlaps with the prosecution’s role.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)