How was the poll on prosecution supplementary investigation rights conducted?

Hangil Research surveyed 1,000 adult respondents from Saturday to Monday for KUKINEWS. The survey also measured support by party identification and political leaning, along with trust and distrust levels for the prosecution and police.

What do the poll results say about trust in the prosecution and police?

Public trust was nearly split on the prosecution, with 48.1 percent saying they trust it and 48.4 percent saying they do not. Trust in the police was lower, at 41.4 percent, while 55.2 percent said they distrust it.

62.5 % of Koreans say prosecution's supplementary investigation rights necessary: poll

Q: Why do many Koreans say prosecutors should keep supplementary investigation rights?

Respondents said prosecutors need that authority to address potential gaps in initial police investigations. Critics of the revision argued that removing the power could leave victims of crimes less protected.

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Summary

More than six in 10 Koreans say prosecutors should keep supplementary investigation rights, a poll showed Wednesday after the prosecution lost its investigative powers. The survey found 625 of 1,000 adults supported the authority to fix gaps in police investigations. Support was high across parties and political leanings, while trust in the prosecution and police was split.

Key Facts

The poll was commissioned by KUKINEWS and conducted by Hangil Research from Saturday to Monday.
Among 1,000 adult respondents, 625 said prosecutors need supplementary investigative authority.
Support stood at 53.8 percent among ruling Democratic Party of Korea supporters and 73 percent among People Power Party supporters.
Trust in the prosecution was 48.1 percent, while distrust was 48.4 percent.
Trust in the police was 41.4 percent, while distrust was 55.2 percent.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 5, 2026 4:58 pm KST

The prosecution service logo is seen on a door at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seoul's Seocho District, Wednesday. Yonhap

More than six out of 10 Koreans believe prosecutors should retain the right to conduct supplementary investigations, a survey showed Wednesday, after the prosecution was stripped of all investigative powers this week.

According to the poll commissioned by KUKINEWS and conducted by Hangil Research from Saturday to Monday, 625 of the 1,000 adult respondents said prosecutors need supplementary investigative authority to address potential gaps in initial police investigations.

The poll follows recent revisions to the Criminal Procedure Act that stripped the prosecution of its remaining authority to conduct supplementary investigations in the event police investigations were inadequate, leaving it mainly with the ability to indict.

Critics have said the revision could leave victims of crimes less protected.

Support for the prosecution's supplementary investigation powers spanned across the political spectrum at 53.8 percent among supporters of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and 73 percent among supporters of the main opposition People Power Party, according to the survey.

By political leaning, moderates expressed the highest support at 70.5 percent, followed by conservatives at 69.9 percent and progressives at 52 percent.

Meanwhile, public trust in law enforcement agencies was divided.

Trust in the prosecution stood at 48.1 percent while distrust came to 48.4 percent. Trust in the police was lower at 41.4 percent, while distrust was higher at 55.2 percent.

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