South Korea's National Assembly passed a criminal procedure law amendment that fully removes the direct investigative authority of prosecutors [1].

This legislative shift marks the beginning of a “post-prosecutor” era by stripping prosecutors of their supplementary investigation rights. The move represents a fundamental overhaul of a criminal justice system that has remained largely intact for more than 70 years [1].

The Democratic Party of Korea championed the reform as part of a broader agenda to restructure the legal system. Under the new law, the existing Prosecutor’s Office is slated for abolition to make way for a new entity [1].

This new body, the Central Serious Crime Investigation Agency, is expected to launch in October [1]. The agency will take over the investigative functions previously held by prosecutors, separating the power to investigate from the power to prosecute.

Despite the passage of the amendment, some officials have raised concerns regarding the transition. Critics said that insufficient preparation for the handover could lead to a “gap-opening” in the justice system, a period where legal loopholes or administrative failures might hinder the pursuit of crime [1].

Reporters covering the transition in Seoul said that the shift is one of the most significant changes to the country's legal framework in decades [1]. The government now faces the task of staffing and equipping the new agency before the October deadline to ensure no disruption in ongoing criminal cases [1].

“The move represents a fundamental overhaul of a criminal justice system that has remained largely intact for over 70 years.”

The separation of investigative and prosecutorial powers is a strategic move to reduce the concentrated authority of the prosecution service, which has historically been viewed as a powerhouse of political influence in South Korea. By transferring investigative duties to the Central Serious Crime Investigation Agency, the state aims to create a system of checks and balances. However, the success of this transition depends on whether the new agency can achieve operational readiness by October without losing critical evidence or momentum in active investigations.