22nd National Assembly Gears Up for Prosecutor Reform Bill Debates

22nd National Assembly Officially Kicks Off Prosecutor Reform Bill Discussions… Lawmaker Jang Shin-sang Hopes for Judiciary Committee Placement

As the 22nd National Assembly convenes, discussions on prosecutor reform bills, a major point of contention in the political arena, are showing signs of gaining momentum. In particular, Rep. Jang Shin-sang of the Democratic Party of Korea, ahead of standing committee assignments, hopes to be placed in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee or the Steering Committee where he can leverage his expertise. He is expected to play a pivotal role in pushing prosecutor reform bills forward. Following the start of the 22nd National Assembly's term, Rep. Jang appears set to lead the Jo Guk Innovation Party's party-line stance on prosecutor reform.

Rep. Jang Shin-sang has already expressed his intention to propose legislation aimed at significantly reducing the prosecution's direct investigative powers through amendments to the Prosecutors' Office Act. This suggests a potential move towards separating the prosecution's investigative and indictment powers and restricting the scope of direct investigations into specific crimes. If such legislation passes, significant changes are anticipated in the prosecution's authority and role, with a considerable impact expected on the entire judicial system. The case on May 22, 2026, where a man in his 70s received a fine for posting a death threat against a lawmaker on internet comments at the Changwon District Court, serves as a backdrop heightening public interest in the legislative review process amidst political conflict.

Jo Guk Innovation Party Drives Prosecutor Reform Centered on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee

Lawmakers from the Jo Guk Innovation Party are also expected to actively participate in legislative activities for prosecutor reform. Rep. Lee Ju-hyun has expressed anticipation for activities in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and hopes for an assignment to the relevant standing committee, having already announced preparations to propose prosecutor reform bills, including the separation of investigative and indictment powers, since the start of the 22nd Assembly term. Furthermore, Rep. Lee mentioned that reviews are underway for bills that would strengthen the investigative functions of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO). These moves clearly demonstrate the Jo Guk Innovation Party's commitment to making prosecutor reform a key policy agenda item and its intention to push for the passage of related bills, focusing on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

In addition, Rep. Park Jeong-heon has participated in votes on key bills such as the 'Sergeant Chae Special Prosecutor Act' since the opening of the 22nd National Assembly. Rep. Park is expected to contribute to the prompt passage of this bill by participating in discussions on the legislative review process within the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee concerning the 'Sergeant Chae Special Prosecutor Act' initiative. Moreover, Rep. Park has announced the submission of a 'Political Relations Act Amendment' as the 'No. 1 Bill' in the 22nd National Assembly, aiming to enhance transparency and efficiency in parliamentary operations. This foreshadows broad legislative activities encompassing not only prosecutor reform but also the strengthening of the National Assembly's core functions.

Rep. Choi Ji-hoon is also lending weight to discussions on prosecutor reform bills by actively supporting the passage of the 'Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' and urging the swift enactment of the 'Sergeant Chae Special Prosecutor Act.' These actions by the Jo Guk Innovation Party lawmakers show a strategy to set prosecutor reform as a major agenda item at the party level and to lead specific bill proposals, reviews, and passage initiatives centered around the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Rep. Lim Hyeong-taek has stated his intention to focus on legislative activities for the passage of bills related to 'recovery of people's livelihood economy' and 'judicial reform,' and has been assigned to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to participate in related discussions. It is evident from this that various lawmakers of the Jo Guk Innovation Party are pursuing concrete legislative activities toward the common goal of prosecutor reform.

Legislative Trend Analysis: Amendment to Personal Information Protection Act Enforcement Decree and Strengthening of Humidifier Disinfectant Victim Compensation System

Meanwhile, the National Assembly is discussing important bills in various fields beyond prosecutor reform. According to a recent Yonhap News report, amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act are being pursued to require companies of a certain size to obtain board approval when appointing or dismissing a Chief Privacy Officer (CPO). Additionally, personal information protection certification (ISMS-P) will become mandatory for mobile carriers and identity verification institutions. These measures reflect the growing importance of personal information protection in the rapidly changing digital environment and are expected to create a new regulatory landscape for related industries.

The move to strengthen the compensation system for victims of humidifier disinfectant is also noteworthy. The government plans to specify compensation standards and application procedures for victims through a complete revision of the special law's enforcement decree, expand educational support for student victims, and strengthen measures for securing compensation funds. This indicates progress in government efforts to provide relief to victims of past large-scale chemical product accidents and is assessed to contribute to establishing a systematic foundation to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents. While discussions on amendments to the Financial Consumer Protection Act are somewhat delayed in the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee, the Financial Services Commission is accelerating related policy initiatives by launching a 'Inclusive Finance Promotion Group' next month.

Rep. Kim Jae-jun of the Democratic Party of Korea is expected to participate in proposing and reviewing science and technology-related bills as a member of the Science, ICT, Future Planning, Broadcasting and Communications Committee. This demonstrates the National Assembly's interest in supporting technological innovation and refining related systems to secure future growth engines. Furthermore, Rep. Choi Jeong-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea has expressed his intention to actively participate in standing committee activities to fulfill his pledge for local council reform and innovation.

Future Outlook: Concerns over Prolonged Legislative Vacancy and Policy Momentum

Although the 22nd National Assembly is engaging in discussions on various bills from its outset, the possibility of a prolonged legislative vacancy due to delays in organizing the assembly and political conflicts is also being raised. Despite the agreement on electing the National Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speakers on June 5, projections suggest that a significant vacancy is inevitable for the latter half of the assembly's term, particularly in conjunction with the results of the June 5 local elections. This could create an environment where it is difficult to expedite important policy decisions or legislative review processes. Meanwhile, Rep. Lee Hun-ki has announced his intention to propose a 'Ilbe Ban Law' and held a press conference urging an end to mockery and hate speech, signaling active legislative efforts on social issues.

However, given the strong will shown by Jo Guk Innovation Party lawmakers such as Jang Shin-sang, Lee Ju-hyun, Park Jeong-heon, and Choi Ji-hoon to push for prosecutor reform bills, discussions on this issue are expected to intensify. Bills directly related to people's livelihoods, such as the amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act enforcement decree and the strengthening of the humidifier disinfectant victim compensation system, are also likely to be discussed sequentially. For these bills to pass the National Assembly, cooperation and constructive dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties are essential. Particularly for contentious issues like prosecutor reform, achieving social consensus will be a crucial task. Attention is focused on whether the National Assembly can overcome these challenges and accelerate legislative activities for national stability and development.