Acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyun issued a statement on July 29 [1] opposing a proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act.
The dispute centers on the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority. If the amendment passes, the prosecution would lose its power to conduct follow-up investigations, a move that critics argue would disrupt the legal chain of custody, and evidence gathering.
Koo said the amendment would cause the criminal-justice system to collapse and that the resulting damage would be borne by the public [1]. He issued the statement to reporters from the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seoul [1].
While acknowledging that there is a general consensus on the need for supplementary investigations for the benefit of the people, Koo said that any reform must be designed to protect the citizenry [1]. He said that removing these specific authorities would dismantle the current framework of law enforcement — a shift he believes would leave ordinary citizens vulnerable.
This marks the first official statement from the acting Prosecutor General since taking the role. The opposition highlights a growing tension between the legislative push for prosecutorial reform and the executive branch's concerns over operational efficiency in criminal cases [1].
“The criminal-justice system will collapse... the damage will be borne by the public”
This opposition reflects a critical struggle over the balance of power within South Korea's legal system. By challenging the removal of supplementary investigation authority, the prosecution is arguing that the legislative attempt to curb its power will create a 'justice gap' where crimes may go unsolved or evidence may be lost, ultimately shifting the burden of systemic inefficiency onto the victims and the general public.
