Abolition of Prosecutors’ Office Before Chuseok... Ruling Bloc Reaches Compromise on Reform Pace

Ruling Party and Presidential Office Dispel Speculation of Discord Over Prosecution Reform
Emphasize Unified Approach; Compromise Reached Between Speed and Prudence

The presidential office and the ruling party leadership have agreed to pass the amendment to the Government Organization Act, which includes the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office, at a plenary session of the National Assembly before Chuseok. The government and the presidential office, which have emphasized the completeness of the prosecution reform plan, and the ruling party leadership, which has pushed for speed, have reached a compromise.

Jeong Chungrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the party members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st. 2025.8.21 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

At the Democratic Party members' meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido on the 21st, party leader Jeong Chungrae said, "With President Lee Jaemyung's decision yesterday, the party and the presidential office have agreed to process the Government Organization Act, which includes the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office and the establishment of the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA), within September as part of the prosecution reform to separate investigation and indictment." He added, "As promised, we will do our best so that the news of the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office can be delivered to the people as they return home for Chuseok."

The previous day, President Lee and the ruling party leadership held a dinner for about two hours starting at 6:30 p.m., during which they reached this agreement. The government will take charge of the follow-up measures. During the dinner, Jeong expressed his gratitude to the president, saying, "I thank the president," and Kim Byungki, the Democratic Party's floor leader, reportedly said, "The separation of investigation and indictment itself is a major transformation."

This move is seen as a way to dispel interpretations that the ruling party and the government or presidential office are out of sync regarding the pace of prosecution reform, and as a compromise solution. Previously, Jeong had emphasized the need to complete prosecution reform before Chuseok, highlighting the need for swift reform, but President Lee, Prime Minister Kim Minseok, and Kang Hunsik, Chief Presidential Secretary, had stated that the completeness of the reform was more important.

By amending the Government Organization Act, the government and ruling party have established the justification for effectively abolishing the Prosecutors' Office before Chuseok, while also gaining more time to deliberate on the follow-up bills regarding the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, Public Prosecution Office, National Investigation Commission, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which will assume the functions and authority of the Prosecutors' Office. Moon Geumjoo, the Democratic Party's spokesperson for the floor, told reporters after the policy coordination meeting that "the effective date of the Government Organization Act will be set for a specific point in time," adding, "The law will not be implemented immediately upon passage."