South Korea's National Assembly passed a prosecution reform bill led by the ruling Democratic Party, establishing the legal basis for a new serious crime investigation agency to launch in October. The approval followed the end of a 24-hour filibuster by the main opposition People Power Party, whose lawmakers boycotted the vote.
On March 21, South Korea's National Assembly approved a Democratic Party-led prosecution reform bill in a 166-1 vote during a plenary session in Seoul. The legislation creates a new serious crime investigation agency under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, tasked with investigating corruption, economic offenses, defense industry-related crimes, drug offenses, insurrection, and cyber crimes. The vote occurred shortly after the main opposition People Power Party concluded a 24-hour filibuster, with its lawmakers boycotting the proceedings. This follows the Democratic Party's passage the previous day of a bill stripping the prosecution of investigative powers and establishing a separate indictment agency. Both bills take effect in October, abolishing the current prosecution structure as part of separating investigation and indictment powers. Under the new system, the indictment agency will handle only indictments, while investigative authority transfers to the serious crimes agency.
