[Anchor]

The amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which completely strips prosecutors of their investigative powers, has ultimately passed the National Assembly under the leadership of the ruling-leaning parties. The criminal justice system, which has been in place for over 70 years, is set to undergo a massive transformation. While the Democratic Party evaluated it as a historic turning point, the People Power Party criticized it as running counter to public sentiment.

Reporter Park Chan-beom has the story.

[Reporter]

The ruling-leaning parties' amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act was submitted to the plenary session of the National Assembly yesterday (July 30).

Lawmakers from the ruling-leaning parties forced an end to the People Power Party's filibuster, or legal obstruction of proceedings, through a vote this afternoon after 24 hours.

A vote followed immediately, with the People Power Party protesting by walking out.

The amendment was passed with 175 in favor, 2 against, and 1 abstention out of 178 lawmakers present.

Within the Democratic Party, lawmaker Kwak Sang-un, who has expressed concern over the side effects of the complete abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights, cast a dissenting vote, while lawmaker Lee So-young cast an abstention.

With prosecutors' investigative rights—maintained since the enactment of the Criminal Procedure Act in 1945—completely disappearing after 72 years, prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights will also be entirely abolished, leaving only the power to request supplementary investigations from the police.

The grounds for a court to dismiss an indictment will now include "serious illegal investigation or significant deviation of prosecutorial discretion."

[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: This is a historic turning point that separates investigation from indictment, placing prosecutorial power under the control of the Constitution and the people.]

The People Power Party demanded that the president exercise veto power and also announced plans to file a constitutional complaint.

[Jung Jeom-sik / People Power Party Floor Leader: More than a majority of the public opposed the abolition of supplementary investigation rights. However, the Democratic Party is going against public sentiment.]

The Cheong Wa Dae stated, "We respect the final judgment of the National Assembly," adding, "By separating investigation and indictment, we will prevent the monopoly of power while raising the level of protection for victims and public human rights."

Currently, an amendment to the National Assembly Act—which aims to shorten the review period for bills designated as "fast-track" agenda items from a maximum of 330 days to 90 days—has been submitted to the plenary session of the National Assembly under the leadership of the Democratic Party, and the People Power Party has launched a filibuster.

The filibuster is scheduled to end at midnight today along with the conclusion of the July extraordinary session of the National Assembly, and the bill is expected to be processed led by the Democratic Party at the first plenary session of the August extraordinary session.

(Photo: Yonhap News / Video reported by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan, Video edited by Lee Seung-jin, Graphics by Lee Jong-jung)