Photo courtesy of Yonhap News
The two branches of the Prosecutor’s Office Separation Act, the Prosecutor’s Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act, were approved at the National Assembly and then the State Council, completing all legislative procedures.
President Moon Jae-in, who presided over the last cabinet meeting of his tenure, promulgated the bill without veto, saying, “I will responsibly deliberate and decide on the law related to prosecutorial reform within the term of my administration.”
President Moon said, “The reason why the National Assembly has moved one step further to the separation of investigation and prosecution is that concerns about the political neutrality, fairness, and selective justice of the prosecution’s investigation are still unresolved and there are evaluations that it is insufficient to gain the public’s trust.” I think,” he said.
He also explained, “The amendments contain contents such as reducing the scope of the prosecution’s investigation, separating investigations and prosecutions within the prosecution, and prohibiting the investigation of unreasonable special cases.”
However, he said, “It is regrettable that the legislative process suffered considerable pain as an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties was reached and then canceled by mediation by the chairman of the National Assembly.”
Today’s cabinet meeting has been postponed to 2 pm instead of in the morning in consideration of the schedule of the National Assembly plenary session, and the amendment will take effect four months later.