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South Korea's National Assembly strips prosecutors of investigative powers
On 31 July, South Korea’s National Assembly approved a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act that removes prosecutors’ authority to investigate crimes. The bill passed the plenary with 175 votes in favour, two against and one abstention, after the ruling Democratic Party of Korea ended a filibuster by the opposition People Power Party, which then boycotted the vote. The amendment abolishes the prosecution’s direct and supplementary investigation rights and limits prosecutors to requesting police to conduct supplementary investigations, which must be completed within one month and may be extended by another month. The law is scheduled to take effect on 2 October 2024. President Lee Jae‑Myung has 15 days from transmission to sign or veto the bill. Victims will gain the right to appeal police decisions not to prosecute and to access investigation records. The change has prompted criticism from women’s and civil‑rights groups, who warn that the loss of prosecutorial oversight could leave victims unprotected and cause delays in investigations. Prosecutor General Gu Ja‑hyun submitted his resignation in protest of the reform.
Entities
Democratic Party of Korea · Gu Ja‑hyun · Joo Ho‑young · National Assembly of South Korea · National Assembly of South Korea · People Power Party · People Power Party (South Korea) · President Lee Jae‑myung · South Korea
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The revised law will take effect on 2 October 2024. www.koreaherald.com · www.koreatimes.co.kr
- [● 2 SOURCES] President Lee Jae‑Myung has 15 days to veto or sign the bill after its transmission. www.koreatimes.co.kr · www.koreaherald.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The law grants victims or complainants the right to appeal police decisions not to prosecute and to access investigation records. www.koreaherald.com · www.koreatimes.co.kr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The amendment adds new grounds for dismissing a prosecution when based on serious illegal investigation or gross abuse of discretion. www.koreaherald.com · www.koreatimes.co.kr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The amendment eliminates the prosecution’s direct investigation authority and abolishes the supplementary investigation right. www.koreaherald.com · www.koreatimes.co.kr
- [DISPUTED] Under the new law prosecutors may only request police to conduct supplementary investigations, which must be completed within one month and can be extended by another month. www.koreaherald.com · www.koreatimes.co.kr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The National Assembly passed a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act stripping prosecutors of investigative powers with a vote of 175‑2 and one abstention. www.koreaherald.com · www.koreatimes.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Democratic Party of Korea led the passage while the People Power Party boycotted the vote after ending a filibuster. www.koreaherald.com · www.koreatimes.co.kr