The National Assembly's Legislation Committee passed laws establishing a Major Crime Investigation Agency and a Prosecutor's Office, with expected final votes on the 19th amidst political tension between ruling and opposition parties.
On the 18th, the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee approved legislative measures for the establishment of a Major Crime Investigation Agency (MCIA) and a Prosecutor's Office, which are follow-up steps following the abolition of the current prosecution office. Both laws are anticipated to be brought to the plenary session for voting on the 19th amid increasing political controversy. The ruling party championed the votes, which led to the opposition party, People's Power, walking out in protest.
The legislation outlines the organizational structure, functions, and personnel management of the new MCIA and Prosecutor's Office that will be established following the dismantling of the current prosecution office slated for October. The bill had gone through several legislative announcements since January, and despite some internal dissent within the ruling party, the final agreement was reached after collaborative discussions among party, government, and presidential office officials. This led to the current version set to be voted upon soon.
The Democratic Party aims to pass the bills during the upcoming plenary session, while the opposition party is preparing to initiate a filibuster against the legislation, claiming it disproportionately benefits criminals and endangers public safety by fragmenting investigative powers. This illustrates the broader contention surrounding judicial reform in South Korea, which continues to evoke strong reactions from both sides of the political spectrum, demonstrating how deeply entrenched the issues remain within the legislative process.
