Public Opinion on Prosecutors' Supplementary Investigation Authority: 61% in Favor of Retention vs. 23% for Abolition

[Anchor]

Results of a public opinion poll regarding the potential abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority have been released. 61% of respondents stated that the authority should be maintained to keep the police in check and prevent inadequate investigations, while only 23% argued for its complete abolition in line with the principle of separating prosecution and investigation. Even among supporters of the Democratic Party and those with progressive leanings, opinions on retention and abolition were found to be closely divided.

Reported by Kim Ayeong.

[Reporter]

This survey was conducted by the polling agency Gallup Korea over three days starting from July 14, targeting 1,003 adults aged 18 and older nationwide.

Respondents were asked for their views on the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority, which allows prosecutors to conduct additional investigations directly when they determine that police investigations are insufficient.

The survey found that 61% of respondents supported maintaining the supplementary investigation authority to keep the police in check and prevent inadequate investigations, while 23% supported its complete abolition based on the principle of separating prosecution and investigation.

By political affiliation, 46% of Democratic Party supporters favored maintaining the authority, while 39% supported its complete abolition.

Among supporters of the People Power Party, 81% favored retention and 8% favored complete abolition. Among those with no party affiliation, 63% favored retention and 12% favored complete abolition.

By ideological orientation, 77% of conservative respondents chose retention, while 13% chose complete abolition. Among those with moderate views, 64% favored retention and 23% favored complete abolition.

Among progressive respondents, 46% answered that it should be maintained, while 42% answered that it should be completely abolished.

Gallup analyzed that while opinions are evenly split among Democratic Party supporters and those with progressive leanings, the argument for retention is dominant across most respondent demographics.

Gallup also explained that while 82% of Democratic Party supporters at the time favored the prosecution reform plan proposed in September last year—which involved abolishing the Prosecutors' Office and establishing a Public Prosecution Service and a Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to split the existing prosecution and investigation powers—they do not appear to be as active in supporting the current proposal to abolish the supplementary investigation authority.

(Video Editing: Jang Hyun-ki)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.