Cheong Wa Dae Respects National Assembly's Passage of Bill Abolishing Prosecutors' Supplementary Investigation Authority

Cheong Wa Dae stated that it "respects the legislative process and final decision" regarding the passage of the Criminal Procedure Act amendment at the National Assembly plenary session, which entirely abolishes prosecutors' direct investigative powers, including supplementary investigation authority.

Sung Ki-hong, senior presidential secretary for public communication, stated in a press notice today (the 31st) that "this amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act will prevent the monopoly and abuse of power through the separation of investigation and indictment, while elevating the level of protection for victims and public human rights, bringing the criminal justice system one step closer to the public."

He also promised, "Cheong Wa Dae will do its utmost to ensure that this amendment is implemented without a hitch in the field and that the public can feel the change in their daily lives."

Earlier this afternoon, led by the ruling bloc including the Democratic Party of Korea, the Criminal Procedure Act amendment 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 processing and staged a filibuster immediately after the amendment was tabled at the plenary session the previous day, did not participate in the vote.

Following this amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, prosecutors can no longer conduct direct investigations.

The prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority 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 illegal investigations or where an indictment is filed in significant violation of prosecutorial discretion as grounds for a "dismissal of indictment" ruling.

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