In South Korea, the public prosecutor's office will be abolished and split into the Public Prosecution Service and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, the first major criminal justice reform since 1948.

[Seoul Current Affairs] In South Korea, the public prosecutor's office will be abolished on the 2nd and will be split into the Public Prosecution Service, which is in charge of indictments and trials, and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, which is responsible for investigating political corruption and economic crimes. A major reform of the criminal justice system that will see the disappearance of the public prosecutor's office that has existed since 1948. The abolition of the public prosecutor's office, which has been criticized for biased investigations in line with the wishes of those in power, is a long-cherished wish for reformists. On the other hand, there are concerns about a decline in the quality of investigations and delays.

Conflict between prosecutors and police amid chaos at investigation sites - South Korea

"I finished the homework I was given." In early August, after the National Assembly passed a bill to revise the Criminal Procedure Law that would take away investigative powers from prosecutors, members of the progressive ruling Democratic Party, which led the charge, placed the bill at the grave of former President Roh Moo-hyun.

The prosecutor's office, especially the special investigation department, has been criticized as a ``political prosecutor'' that tries to gauge the complexion of those in power and conducts aggressive investigations and investigations that lead to conclusions. The reformist Roh administration (2003-2008) first attempted to weaken the power of the prosecutor's office. However, Mr. Roh, who was at odds with the prosecution, was investigated after leaving office and committed suicide. A political insider explains, ``The biggest motive behind the progressive forces' abolition of the prosecutor's office was revenge for Mr. Roh's suicide.''

Under the Moon Jae-in administration, prosecutors led by Prosecutor General Yun Seok-yeo (former president) investigated former Justice Minister Kuk, who was close to him. The conflict with the Moon administration became the driving force behind Yoon's rise to the presidency. Under the Yun administration, prosecutors thoroughly pursued suspicions against President Lee Jae-myung, a ``political rival'' who was the representative of the largest opposition party at the time. Just as the opposition from progressive forces was growing stronger, Yoon was impeached by declaring ``emergency martial law,'' and the movement toward abolishing the public prosecutor's office suddenly accelerated.

Under the new system, supplementary investigation powers previously granted to prosecutors will be abolished. A lawyer who primarily handles criminal cases explains, ``Supplementary investigations have been conducted in more than 50% of cases that the police refer to prosecutors.'' In the murder case of a high school girl that occurred in Gwangju, in the southwestern part of the country, in May of this year, prosecutors discovered through a supplementary investigation that the defendant's father, a police officer, had destroyed evidence.

Many people are concerned that there will be no system in place to prevent inadequate investigations by the police. In particular, women's groups and crime victim groups objected to the move, saying that it risks covering up cases of sexual violence. A lawyer who has supported people with disabilities and women points out, ``Even if the initial investigation is insufficient, there is a high possibility that the case will be closed without the mistakes being corrected.''