Cheong Wa Dae Respects Final Decision on Parliamentary Passage of Bill Abolishing Prosecutors' Supplementary Investigation Powers

Cheong Wa Dae stated that it "respects the legislative process and final decision" following the National Assembly's plenary passage of the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which completely abolishes prosecutors' direct investigation powers, including supplementary investigation authority.

Senior Secretary to the President for Public Relations Sung Ki-hong announced through a press release today (July 31) that "this amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act will prevent the monopoly and abuse of power through the separation of investigation and prosecution, while elevating the level of protection for victims and the human rights of the public, thereby bringing the criminal justice system one step closer to the people."

He added, "Cheong Wa Dae will do its utmost to ensure that this amendment is implemented smoothly in the field and that the public can tangibly feel the changes in their daily lives."

Earlier this afternoon, led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and other pan-ruling bloc parties, the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act was passed at the plenary session with 175 in favor, 2 against, and 1 abstention out of 178 members present.

The People Power Party, which had opposed the bill's handling and conducted a filibuster immediately after the amendment was submitted to the plenary session the previous day, did not participate in the vote.

Under the revised Criminal Procedure Act, prosecutors can no longer conduct direct investigations.

The supplementary investigation authority of prosecutors has also been abolished.

However, prosecutors can request judicial police officers to conduct supplementary investigations, and in such cases, the police must complete the supplementary investigation within one month and notify the prosecutors of the results.

The amendment newly added cases where an indictment is filed based on serious unlawful investigations or where an indictment is filed in significant violation of prosecutorial discretion as grounds for a ruling of "dismissal of indictment."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.