South Korea's National Assembly on Friday, 31 July passed a landmark revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, stripping the prosecution of its authority to conduct direct investigations — including supplementary probes — in a 175-2 vote with one abstention. The bill, pushed through by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), marks a sweeping restructuring of South Korea's criminal justice architecture and has drawn immediate and fierce opposition from the People Power Party (PPP).

What the Bill Changes

Under the revised law, prosecutors will no longer be permitted to lead direct investigations. Instead, they will be required to request judicial police officers to carry out supplementary investigations on their behalf. The revision is framed as a follow-up to broader prosecution reform legislation that calls for dismantling the existing prosecution structure and creating two new independent agencies — one tasked with investigations and another with indictments.

How the Vote Unfolded

The bill's passage was preceded by a procedural battle. The PPP had launched a filibuster the previous day in a bid to block the vote. The Assembly voted to invoke cloture — ending the filibuster — before proceeding to the plenary vote, where the bill cleared with an overwhelming majority. The DP's numerical dominance in the legislature proved decisive.

Acting Prosecutor General Resigns

In a striking response to the bill's passage, acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyeon submitted his resignation shortly after the vote. 'I've just submitted my resignation to take responsibility for the revision,' Koo told reporters. The move signals deep institutional discontent within the prosecution over the legislative overhaul.

Opposition Calls for Presidential Veto

The PPP immediately called on President Lee Jae Myung to exercise his veto power. The party's floor leader, Jeong Jeom-sig, described the bill as 'tailor-made legislation' for the president, noting a provision that reportedly relaxes the requirements for courts to dismiss indictments — at a time when President Lee's own criminal trials are currently suspended. 'He should use his veto power as he does not want it to be remembered as the "Lee Jae Myung escape-from-prison law,"' Jeong said at a press briefing in the National Assembly.

Presidential Office Response and What Comes Next

The presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, said it 'respects' parliament's decision. Senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication Seong Ghi-hong said in a statement: 'We'll do our utmost to ensure the revised law is implemented smoothly and that the public can feel the change in their daily lives.' Separately, the Assembly also introduced a revision to the National Assembly Act that would shorten the review period for fast-tracked bills from a maximum of 330 days to 90 days — a measure the PPP has already filibustered. That filibuster was set to expire automatically at midnight when the July extraordinary parliamentary session ended, with a vote expected at the first plenary session next month.