"검찰 수사지휘권 폐지, 경찰과 상호협력 관계로"

The Moon administration is seeking to divide investigative powers between prosecution and the police... more evenly.
All part of reform efforts deemed necessary... as there have been many instances of corrupt prosecutors abusing their authority.
Kim Min-ji explains further.
The South Korean government is looking to achieve a balance between the prosecution and police -- by diluting the concentration of investigative powers in the prosecution.
Its proposed measures unveiled Thursday are aimed at having the prosecution and police work hand-in-hand, focusing on the expertise of their respective bodies.

The biggest change is that the police will be given more autonomy and more responsibility during the initial investigation.
They will have the right to investigate,... as well as the authority to close a case -- independent of the prosecution.
This means that the police will be able to determine whether or not to pursue an indictment.
Under the current system,... the police can open a case,... but cannot close it without approval from the prosecution.... while investigations by the police are required to be overseen by a prosecutor.
But to prevent the National Police Agency from becoming too powerful... the government plans to introduce autonomous police systems under the control of local governments starting next year.

Meanwhile, prosecutors will be able to retain their sole authority to indict and apply for arrest warrants,... despite their investigative powers being reduced.
But they will be allowed to request re-investigation into cases that they deem necessary,... or in any circumstances where the police are found to have misused their increased power.

"The proposal will see the prosecution and police break away from the vertical system... so they can cooperate and each take responsibility for people's safety and protecting human rights. This will enable each body to keep either in check and step up the efficiency of investigations."

The proposal is part of the Moon Jae-in administration's goal to reform the so-called organs of power,... namely, the prosecutor's office, the police and the country's intelligence agency.