Ruling party to seek vote on bill stripping prosecution's investigative powers

SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's ruling Democratic Party (DP) was set to push for a plenary session vote on Thursday to pass a bill that would strip the prosecution of its direct investigative powers, a move met with strong opposition from the main conservative party.

The DP aims to secure approval for the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act during a plenary session scheduled for 2 p.m., which would eliminate the prosecution's authority to conduct direct and supplementary investigations. This legislative push is part of a broader reform effort by the ruling party to dismantle the current prosecution system and establish separate agencies for investigations and indictments.

In parallel, the DP also intends to pass legislation that would significantly reduce the review period for bills designated as fast-track from a maximum of 330 days to 90 days, aiming to expedite the legislative process.

The main opposition People Power Party is expected to employ filibusters, a tactic to delay or block legislative action, against both proposed bills. However, the DP, which holds 161 seats in the National Assembly, anticipates overcoming these filibusters with the support of minor opposition parties and independents, potentially requiring 180 votes to end the debate and proceed to a vote.