Parliamentary subcommittee passes bill that will dismantle prosecution service
The Public Administration and Security Committee holds a meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
A parliamentary subcommittee on Thursday passed a bill aimed at dismantling the prosecution service and stripping the finance ministry of its budget planning power.
If approved at the National Assembly, the prosecution will basically lose its power to initiate criminal investigations and remain an institution in charge of legal proceedings against criminal charges.
During a subcommittee meeting of the Public Administration and Security Committee, lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) pushed the bill through despite objection from the main opposition People Power Party.
Critics have argued that the prosecution wields excessive authority because it can both initiate criminal investigations and indict suspects.
The bill also seeks to separate the Ministry of Economy and Finance into two bodies — one on budget management and another on economic and policy oversight.
The bill is expected to be put up for a full vote during a plenary session next Thursday after it is approved at the committee's meeting Monday and reviewed by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.