Floor Leader Jung Jeong-sik Called the Abolition of the Prosecution Service a Death Sentence
"Abolishing the Prosecution Is a Death Sentence... Restoring Investigative Powers Comes First"
Jung Jeong-sik, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party and a former prosecutor, declared on the 2nd that he would "introduce and push for the Supplementary Investigation Restoration Act first," directly confronting discussions over the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office. Speaking at a National Assembly audit strategy meeting on Tuesday morning, Jung briefly grew red-eyed while announcing his position on the prosecution's abolition. He likened the abolition of the prosecution to "the death of the criminal investigation system." The ruling and opposition parties' standoff over the investigation-and-indictment structure has resurfaced during the National Assembly audit and its steering committee phase.
Background: A Push for Reversal Since the Prosecution Reform
The proposed bill is an extension of the ongoing debate over restoring prosecutorial powers, which has persisted since the prosecution's direct investigative authority was drastically curtailed. The opposition People Power Party has argued that stripping the prosecution of its investigative powers has created a void in serious crime investigations. In contrast, the ruling camp, including the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, maintains that separating investigation and indictment is essential to safeguarding the prosecution's political neutrality. The fact that lawmakers of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party have been repeatedly involved in prosecution-reform-related legislation has further deepened the temperature gap between the two sides.
The timing is also notable. The second special counsel team under Kwon Chang-young has requested disciplinary action against Senior Prosecutor Choi Jae-hoon, who handled the original Deutsche Motors probe over allegations the investigation was covered up, while questions about the status of seconded prosecutors surfaced on the very first day of the newly launched Public Prosecution Office—fueling a widening debate over trust in the investigative framework itself. Jung's announcement of the restoration bill is interpreted as a strategy to underscore the prosecution organization's raison d'être while blocking the ruling camp's plan to abolish the Prosecutors' Office at the legislative stage.
Key Points: What Is Supplementary Investigation?
Supplementary investigation refers to the prosecution's authority to conduct investigations directly, within a necessary scope, to support police investigations. It was intended to compensate for the limits of police-only investigations in cases such as corruption and financial crimes that demand sophisticated investigative techniques. The proposed restoration act is reportedly designed to return this authority and grant the prosecution a minimal investigative function. The specific scope of application, as well as the bill's sponsor and timing, have yet to be finalized.
Opinions differ on its impact. The People Power Party is expected to argue that the absence of direct investigative powers has stalled major financial crime probes. Meanwhile, the ruling party and civic groups are wary, warning that restoring supplementary investigation could ultimately lead to the recovery of the prosecution's excessive powers. The reform camp's logic is that when a single body holds both investigation and indictment powers, the indictment monopoly is strengthened and checks and balances weaken. Some in the legal community also point out that carefully designing a legal framework for police-prosecution investigative cooperation matters more than the transfer of authority itself.
Outlook: From the Assembly Audit to a Legislative Battle
Procedurally, the restoration bill must pass through the Legislation and Judiciary Subcommittee of the National Assembly. With the two parties vying for seats on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it will be difficult to pass by a simple vote. Deliberations could also be delayed as the budget review takes precedence after the audit season ends in October. However, given that Jung has declared his intent to push the bill under the authority of his floor leader title, the bill's introduction itself is expected to come quickly.
The issues ahead boil down to two: how far the scope of supplementary investigation should extend, and whether discussions on abolishing the Prosecutors' Office will continue. With both sides fighting over an organization's very existence, finding common ground looks difficult. Regardless of whether the bill passes, the direction of the criminal investigation system is highly likely to become a central battleground in the next presidential election.
