Park Chan-woo, head of the Advisory Committee for Prosecutorial Reform under the Prime Minister's Office, resigned amidst ongoing discussions regarding the enhancement of investigative powers in South Korea. His resignation, accepted by the Prime Minister's Office, follows the earlier resignation of six advisory committee members in January in response to the government's proposal for establishing a Serious Crime Investigation Agency and a Public Prosecution Service, both of which are part of the broader prosecutorial reform movement. The advisory committee was formed to provide guidance on contentious issues surrounding the proposed reforms.

In a statement sent to the media, Park explained that his decision to resign stemmed from two main concerns. Firstly, he has always opposed the abolition of supplementary investigation powers and strongly advocated for the necessity of transferring all cases. He felt that his strong beliefs could impose undue pressure on the committee tasked with preparing legislative amendments from a neutral standpoint. Secondly, Park noted his serious apprehensions regarding the current discussion environment surrounding supplementary investigative powers, where he perceives emotional approaches are taking precedence over thoughtful deliberation. He expressed that this serious issue could lead to significant changes in South Korea's criminal justice procedures.

Ultimately, Park concluded that remaining in his position would not allow him to contribute effectively to the reform he believes in. He prefers to express his views more freely and continue advocating for his principles outside of that role, highlighting a deep concern for the direction in which prosecutorial reform discussions are heading and the potential consequences for the justice system in South Korea.