South Korea’s prosecutors’ office will be officially abolished on Oct. 2, ending 78 years of operation under a sweeping justice reform plan. The National Assembly passed the final criminal procedure amendment on July 31, completing all four bills in the so-called prosecution reform package.[1][2]
Under the new system, investigations will be handled by the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, while indictments will be handled by a newly created Prosecution Office.[1][2] The reform is designed to fully separate investigative and prosecutorial powers, which had long been concentrated in the prosecutors’ office.[7][15]
The amendment also gives prosecutors an expanded power to request supplemental investigations from police. If police do not comply within a month, prosecutors may seek the removal of the officer from duty and request disciplinary action.[1]
The bill passed the Assembly by a vote of 175-2, with one abstention, after the Democratic Party-led vote was boycotted by the People Power Party.[1] Soon after the bill passed, acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyeon submitted his resignation, saying he felt responsible.[1]
