Seoul: The National Assembly has passed a prosecution reform bill led by the ruling Democratic Party (DP) aimed at restructuring the nation's legal framework by stripping the prosecution of its investigative authority. This legislative move sets the stage for the formation of a new indictment agency, marking a significant shift in the separation of powers between investigation and indictment.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the bill was approved in a decisive 161-1 vote during a plenary session, following a prolonged 24-hour filibuster by the main opposition, People Power Party (PPP). In protest, PPP lawmakers chose to boycott the vote. The new law is scheduled to take effect in October, at which point the current prosecution service structure will be disbanded, aligning with the government's initiative to segregate investigative and indictment powers.
The title of the agency's chief will remain as "prosecutor general," despite the structural changes. The new indictment agency will focus solely on indictment processes, transferring investigative responsibilities to a newly established serious crimes investigation agency, which signifies a critical reorganization aimed at enhancing the efficiency and efficacy of criminal investigations.
In addition to the reform bill, the Democratic Party introduced another bill delineating the authority and operational scope of the forthcoming investigative body. This move has triggered another filibuster session by the PPP. The investigative body, to be established under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, will be tasked with probing major crimes, including corruption, economic offenses, defense industry-related crimes, and drug offenses, thereby reinforcing the government's commitment to tackling serious criminal activities.