Government Finalizes Position Against Prosecution Supplementary Investigations

The government has reached a final conclusion that the prosecution should not retain the right to supplementary investigations, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Thursday. The ruling Democratic Party has long sought to remove all investigative authority from the prosecution.

Opposition parties have warned that eliminating the prosecution's role could leave gaps in cases where police investigations fall short.

Background on the reform The prosecution reform legislation, passed by the National Assembly and Cabinet in March, reorganizes government functions by separating investigation and indictment duties into two new agencies. It is scheduled to take effect in October.

The Criminal Procedure Act is expected to be revised in the coming months to implement the changes. Some experts have argued that the revisions should preserve a minimum level of investigative authority for the prosecution.

Government position and next steps "The basic principle of the Lee Jae Myung administration's prosecution reform push is the separation of investigation and indictment," Kim told reporters. " Kim said the government will not propose new legislation and will instead defer to the National Assembly's discussions.

"I expect that various opinions will be sufficiently discussed and a reasonable conclusion will be drawn based on the people's will," he said.