South Korea is expected to approve an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act that removes the supplementary investigation authority of prosecutors [1].
The move represents the first major overhaul of the nation's criminal-justice system in 72 years [1]. By stripping prosecutors of this specific power, the government aims to restructure the balance of authority within the legal system and address long-standing systemic issues.
The amendment has already cleared the National Assembly in Seoul [1]. It is now slated for approval at the State Council meeting next week [1]. President Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to return to the country on Aug. 3 and will chair the cabinet meeting on Aug. 4 [1].
Government officials said that the administration is prioritizing the implementation of supplementary measures to address flaws in the amendment rather than exercising the presidential veto [1]. A senior government official said that because the National Assembly procedures are complete, the matter should be processed quickly [1].
Under the national constitution, the president is required to promulgate a law within 15 days of its transmission to the government [1]. This timeline puts pressure on the administration to finalize the decision shortly after the president's return.
The reform focuses on the removal of the prosecutor's ability to conduct supplementary investigations, a power that has historically allowed prosecutors to maintain significant control over the trajectory of criminal cases [1]. The administration's preference for a refined rollout over a veto suggests a desire to move the 72-year-old system forward without triggering a legislative stalemate [1].
“The move represents the first major overhaul of the nation's criminal-justice system in 72 years.”
This legislative shift signals a fundamental redistribution of power between South Korean prosecutors and other investigative bodies. By eliminating the supplementary investigation authority, the government is attempting to curb the concentrated influence of the prosecution service, which has been a central point of political and legal contention in the country for decades.
