[Anchor]

The amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which completely abolishes prosecutors' investigative powers for the first time in 72 years, has been finalized after passing the National Assembly under the leadership of the pan-ruling parties. This marks a major overhaul of the existing criminal justice system. The Democratic Party evaluated it as a historical turning point, while the People Power Party criticized it as going against public sentiment.

Here is a report by reporter Park Chan-beom.

[Reporter]

The amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act proposed by the pan-ruling parties was submitted to the plenary session of the National Assembly the day before yesterday (the 30th).

Yesterday afternoon, lawmakers from the pan-ruling parties forced an end to the People Power Party's filibuster—a legal obstruction of proceedings—via a vote after 24 hours.

A vote followed immediately, with the People Power Party staging a walkout in protest.

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 had expressed concerns over the side effects of completely abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers, cast a dissenting vote, while lawmaker Lee So-young abstained.

With this, the investigative powers of prosecutors, maintained since the enactment of the Criminal Procedure Act in 1945, will completely disappear after 72 years. Prosecutors' supplementary investigation power will also be completely abolished, leaving only the right to request supplementary investigations from the police.

"Grave illegal investigation or a significant deviation of prosecutorial discretion" will be added to the grounds for the court to dismiss an indictment.

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

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

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

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

Yesterday, the National Assembly plenary session saw the submission—led by the Democratic Party—of an amendment to the National Assembly Act aimed at shortening the review period for bills designated as "fast-track" agenda items from a maximum of 330 days to 90 days. The People Power Party subsequently launched a filibuster.

The filibuster concluded at midnight yesterday with the end of the extraordinary session of the National Assembly in July, and the bill is expected to be processed led by the Democratic Party during the first plenary session of the extraordinary session in August.

(Photo courtesy of Yonhap News)
(Reported by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video by Lee Seung-jin | Design by Lee Jong-jung)