Democratic Party Proposes Prosecution Reform Bill: Abolition of Prosecutors' Office and Creation of Serious Crimes Investigation Office and Prosecution Office

Hardline Lawmakers Propose Bill
"Aiming for Passage Within Three Months"

Lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea have proposed a prosecution reform bill to abolish the Prosecutors' Office and establish the Serious Crimes Investigation Office under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Prosecution Office under the Ministry of Justice, and the National Investigation Commission under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister.

Yonhap News

On June 11 at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Yongmin, Kang Junhyun, Min Hyungbae, Jang Kyungtae, and Kim Moonsu held a press conference and announced the introduction of the prosecution reform bill. The main points of the bill are the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office, the creation of the Serious Crimes Investigation Office under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Prosecution Office under the Ministry of Justice, and the establishment of the National Investigation Commission under the Prime Minister.

The lawmakers who initiated the bill are members of the "National Assembly Forum for a Fair Society (Cheoreomhwoe)," which is considered the progressive wing within the party.

They stated, "On December 29, 2020, we announced the introduction of the Prosecution Office Act, which aimed to abolish the Prosecutors' Office that monopolizes both investigative and prosecutorial powers, and to create a Prosecution Office that would only have the authority to prosecute and maintain indictments. Over the past four years and six months since then, there has been a long and arduous struggle. Now, it is time to fulfill the people's demand to end political prosecutors and prosecutorial dictatorship."

They also said, "To ensure the objectivity and fairness of investigations and prosecutions, we will pursue structural reforms so that the prosecution can both be checked and act as a check. Prosecution reform is not simply about reducing the power of the prosecution, but about normalizing the prosecution to correct the distorted power structure of the Republic of Korea."

After the press conference, lawmaker Kim Yongmin told reporters, "I believe the bills introduced today should be passed within three months. If there are reasonable alternatives, we are open to amendments, so we plan to present the proposal first and begin discussions."