Criminal Procedure Code Amendment Mandating Full Police Transfer of Cases Submitted to National Assembly

Bill Proposed to Overhaul Investigation Authority

A revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, mandating that police exclusively transfer all investigated cases to prosecutors, was submitted to the National Assembly on the 24th. Sponsored by Rep. Kim Nam-hee of the Democratic Party, the amendment seeks to completely eliminate the judicial police's authority to conclude investigations. This legislative measure reverses the foundation of a system introduced to compensate for past shortcomings, where police could directly close cases. If passed, the so-called 'complete case transfer' system will revive, requiring police to immediately transfer all cases to prosecutors upon completion. Simultaneously, the bill includes provisions to explicitly abolish the prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights, strictly separating the responsibilities for investigation and indictment.

This legislative initiative stems from the urgent need to reorganize investigation and prosecution powers ahead of the launch of the Public Prosecutors' Offices and the Serious Crimes Investigation Bureau in October. Under the current system, prosecutors have held the exclusive right to indict while exercising authority to supplement police investigation results, but persistent criticism has argued that this fails to guarantee the neutrality and fairness of law enforcement agencies. Rep. Kim Nam-hee emphasized that a clear separation of investigation and indictment is the only way to complete the original intent of the police-prosecution investigation power adjustment. Furthermore, to actively protect the rights of victims who may be marginalized during the process, the bill includes provisions to explicitly specify victims' rights to state their opinions in law, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the system.

Expert and Civic Group Debate and Political Dynamics

As the bill was referred, demands for swift processing and concerns are tightly clashing. Within the Democratic Party, Floor Leader Han Byeong-do declared there is no time to hesitate on the Criminal Procedure Act amendment, strongly advocating for prompt legislative finalization as the party's official stance. At a general meeting of lawmakers held at the National Assembly on the 24th, the party discussed the issue intensively, demonstrating its united will to the outside world. Conversely, prosecutors-turned-experts and legal experts point out that if supplementary investigation rights are abolished, the entity responsible for supplementing the focal points of a case will disappear, leading to a significant drop in the quality of investigations. In particular, concerns are rising that cases where criminals are not punished due to gaps in evidence collection could surge.

It is a common view in the legal community that while granting police case termination authority and separating indictment rights is necessary for the dispersion of power in the judicial system, minimum control mechanisms for qualitative case management must be established.

Meanwhile, civic judicial research groups argue that a monitoring system to control potential abuse from the police's monopoly on investigations must be discussed at an equal level to the amendment. They point out that follow-up legislation is essential to significantly strengthen the independence and authority of the Judicial Police Review Committee, which guarantees investigation transparency. Some political circles are urging a cautious approach, warning that such drastic institutional changes could cause serious confusion for investigators in the field.

Promotion of Publishing Law Amendment to Introduce Regional Bookstore Certification

Alongside the sweeping overhaul of the investigation system, legislative moves to protect the cultural and industrial ecosystem are gaining momentum. The amendment to the Publishing Culture Industry Promotion Act, represented by Rep. Lee Jae-jeong, contains concrete measures to systematically foster independent bookstores that lead regional reading culture. The amendment centers on certifying bookstores in regional commercial areas that do not rely on large online distribution networks, linking them to direct government support. It embodies a fundamental policy intention to preserve disappearing neighborhood bookstores while providing regional residents with a healthy reading environment.

If the system is implemented, certified regional bookstores are expected to receive tax benefits, rent support, and priority budget allocation for various cultural programs through cooperation between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and local governments. The publishing industry evaluates this bill as a decisive turning point that will alleviate the concentration of sales on large bookstores and restore a healthy publishing ecosystem where diverse content can circulate. The response from the industry is hot, as it is seen as establishing a practical institutional foundation that can drive the growth of small publishers and small bookstores alike.

Future Legislative Schedule and Policy Implications

While the specific timeline for the Criminal Procedure Act amendment's referral to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee has not yet been determined, it is highly likely to be treated as a key agenda item during the upcoming regular session given the ruling party's strong intent. With the launch of the Public Prosecutors' Offices imminent, the bill review process is expected to be accelerated as much as possible to minimize legal gaps. The final timing of the vote is expected to be decided flexibly based on whether the opposition, including the People Power Party, submits specific revision proposals and the results of public hearing schedule coordination between the ruling and opposition parties.

The revision to the Publishing Culture Industry Promotion Act also plans to begin full legal review with the goal of passing within the year, following various opinion gathering and practical reviews by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee. Legislative discussions are moving toward re-evaluating the value of irreplaceable offline cultural spaces amidst the continuously expanding platform economy and changing consumption patterns. This series of legislative measures clearly demonstrates a policy stance that seeks to both radically overhaul the national criminal justice system and promote balanced development of the working-class economy and regional culture. Analysts predict that if these bills pass smoothly and reach legal and institutional stabilization, they will have widespread impacts on the daily lives of the general public, causing a significant shift in the market landscape.