Case Explained: Nat’l Assembly passes bill on new serious crime investigation agency – Legal Perspective

The National Assembly on Saturday passed a prosecution reform bill led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), laying the legal groundwork for a new serious crime investigation agency.

The bill was approved in a 166-1 vote during a plenary session shortly after a 24-hour filibuster by the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ended. PPP lawmakers boycotted the vote.

Under the bill, the new investigative body will be established under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and will be responsible for probing major crimes, including corruption, economic offenses, defense industry-related crimes, drug offenses, insurrection and cyber crimes.

The latest move came a day after the DPK railroaded another bill aimed at stripping the prosecution of investigative authority and laying the legal groundwork for a new indictment agency.

The two bills are set to take effect in October, when the current prosecution service structure will be abolished as part of the government’s push to separate the powers of investigation and indictment.

Under the new framework, the indictment agency will handle only indictments, while investigative powers will be transferred to the newly established serious crimes investigation agency.