Prosecutors Urge President to Carefully Consider Serious Investigation Gaps

Democratic Party's 'Complete Abolition of Prosecution Investigation' Bill Passed in National Assembly Plenary Session... Prosecution Investigations Greatly Reduced
Prosecution: "Passed While Core Procedures Defined by Constitution and National Assembly Act Were Rendered Ineffective"

On the afternoon of the 30th, the amendment to the Prosecutors' Office Act was passed by vote in the National Assembly plenary session amid opposition from the People Power Party lawmakers.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The prosecution expressed deep regret as the 'Prosecution Complete Control Abolition Act' was passed in the National Assembly plenary session.

On the 30th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office emphasized in its "Position on the Passage of the Amendment to the Prosecutors' Office Act in the Plenary Session" that "by depriving the prosecution of its investigative functions over public officials' crimes, lawmakers, high-ranking officials, and other powerful figures will no longer be subject to direct investigation by the prosecution for public official crimes or election crimes, and the prosecution will also be unable to investigate defense industry crimes directly related to national security or public safety, as well as major disaster crimes."

It continued, "By separating investigative prosecutors and prosecuting prosecutors, the prosecutor who initiates the investigation and knows the case details best will no longer be able to prosecute," adding, "This important bill, which directly affects the lives and bodies of the people and dismantles over 70 years of accumulated national investigative capabilities of the prosecution in an instant, was passed without proper discussion and with the core procedures stipulated by the Constitution and the National Assembly Act rendered ineffective."

Furthermore, it stated, "We express deep regret and strongly request that the President and the Speaker of the National Assembly carefully review these unconstitutional and illegal contents and procedures, the lack of public consensus, and the serious investigative gaps concerning major crimes such as election crimes, and make a reasonable decision until the very end."

On the same day, the amendment to the Prosecutors' Office Act, part of the Prosecution Complete Control Abolition Act promoted by the Democratic Party of Korea, passed the National Assembly plenary session amid strong opposition from the People Power Party. With the bill clearing the National Assembly hurdle, if promulgated at the Cabinet meeting on the 3rd of next month, the scope of prosecution investigations will be significantly reduced starting in September, four months later.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.