The National Assembly passed a bill on August 1 that completely abolishes the supplementary investigation rights of prosecutors, marking a significant overhaul of the investigation system that effectively eliminates direct investigative authority for prosecutors for the first time since the establishment of the government in 1948.
Following the bill's passage, numerous posts expressing concerns about public safety in South Korea flooded various online communities. This was particularly fueled by the release of data from the Ministry of Justice regarding the current status of prosecutors and retirements.
According to the disclosed data, approximately 10% of all prosecutors have left the organization in the past year since discussions on the adjustment of investigation rights and the restructuring of the prosecution began. Last year saw a record 175 prosecutors retire, the highest in recent years, with at least 50 resigning by February of this year.
Compounding the issue is the fact that the police, who are set to take over the responsibilities of the prosecution, are also facing a manpower shortage. Reports indicate that following the adjustment of investigation rights, the workload for field investigators has significantly increased, leading to the resignation of over 1,700 police officers. Concerns are growing over delays in case processing and potential gaps in investigations due to the lack of on-site personnel.
Additionally, the revision of physical fitness standards for police recruitment and the increasing ratio of female officers in the field, along with the deployment of so-called 'female patrol cars,' have sparked ongoing debates about the police's ability to respond effectively to public safety issues. In some regions, such as Busan, the rising percentage of female recruits among new officers has raised concerns about their capacity to handle serious incidents and maintain control in the field.
As both the prosecution and police face workforce attrition and challenges in on-site response capabilities, criticism has emerged across the political spectrum online.
In male-dominated online communities, users expressed sentiments such as, "The system that provided victims with top-tier legal services for free has been dismantled to save one person," and "The reality is that we now have to worry about the gender of the occupants in a patrol car with two police officers." Others remarked, "The police fitness test is now tailored to a specific gender rather than the needs of public safety, leading to this chaos."
Meanwhile, female-oriented communities have also voiced their concerns, with comments like, "I will never vote for the Democratic Party again," and "If they do not use their veto power or allow public safety gaps, it could lead to impeachment." Others lamented, "This is a hopeless situation with no solutions provided, just changes to the system," and "At this rate, we will inevitably have to hand over power soon."
With the impending abolition of the prosecution and the establishment of a serious crime investigation agency and public prosecution office, the intertwined issues of workforce attrition and public safety concerns are likely to fuel ongoing debates about the future stability of these reforms.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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