Prosecutors in Trouble: South Korea Abolishes Its Prosecution Service
- Disha Paul
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
South Korea is preparing for a significant overhaul of its criminal justice system. On September 26, 2025, the National Assembly approved a historic bill to abolish the current Prosecution Service, which has been in existence for 78 years.
This reform is set to take effect in October 2026 and could change how crimes are investigated and prosecuted.
But what does this mean for prosecutors, and how will it affect the justice system?
Why South Korea is Making This Change
Right now, prosecutors in South Korea have both investigative and prosecutorial powers. They can start investigations and decide who goes to court. Critics argue this gives them too much control and even room for political influence.
The reform, introduced under President Lee Jae Myung’s administration, aims to split these jobs. Investigating crimes and prosecuting people will now be done by different agencies, reducing abuse of power and increasing transparency
What Will Replace the Prosecution Service
The old Prosecution Service won’t exist, but prosecution itself isn’t going away. Instead, there will be two new agencies:
Prosecution Office – This office will handle all court cases and decide on indictments.
Serious Crimes Investigation Agency – This agency will investigate big crimes like corruption and economic offences.
The idea is to make the justice system fairer and more organized.
How Prosecutors and Lawyers Will Be Affected
Prosecutors won’t lose their jobs, but their roles will change a lot. Many will move to one of the new agencies. Some of their old powers, like leading investigations, will be taken away.
For lawyers, this change might affect how cases are handled. Evidence gathering will now be mostly done by the investigation agency, so lawyers may need new strategies in court.
What This Means for Justice in South Korea
Supporters believe the reform could strengthen fairness, specialization, and accountability, while critics warn of potential politicization and confusion during the transition.
The new system's success will depend on implementation and oversight, and the next few years will be critical to see if the goals of the reform are achieved.
South Korea’s legal shake-up raises a big question for everyone: Will this change make the justice system fairer, or will it create new challenges for prosecutors and citizens?
If you were a prosecutor in South Korea, would you feel uncertain about your future after this reform? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!