Ruling party pushes through sweeping gov't overhaul, dismantling Supreme Prosecutors' Office

The National Assembly on Friday approved the first major government reorganization bill under the Lee Jae Myung administration, dismantling the Supreme Prosecutors' Office after 78 years and creating new agencies to separately handle investigative and prosecutorial functions. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which together with allied parties holds an overwhelming majority in the Assembly, submitted a motion on Thursday evening to end a filibuster by the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). The motion was adopted Friday evening, bringing an end to a marathon debate. The reorganization bill was subsequently approved with 174 votes in favor, one against and five abstentions, out of 180 lawmakers present. Members of the opposition People Power Party boycotted the vote. Central to the legislation is the dismantling of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, a central institution in Korea's criminal justice system since 1948. Its authority will be divided between two newly established bodies: the serious crimes investigation office, which will fall under the Ministry of the InterioWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times