Seoul: Acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyeon offered his resignation Friday, shortly after the National Assembly, led by the ruling Democratic Party, passed a bill aimed at abolishing the prosecution's direct investigative powers.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Koo addressed reporters Friday evening, stating that he has submitted his resignation to "take responsibility" for the passage of the contested bill. The revision to the Criminal Procedure Act was passed in a plenary session with a 175-2 vote, with one abstention, following a motion to halt a filibuster initiated by the main opposition, People Power Party, the previous day.

The newly passed bill removes the prosecution's authority to conduct direct investigations, including supplementary investigations. Instead, prosecutors will be authorized to request judicial police officers to carry out these investigations. Koo emphasized the need for the prosecution to reflect on its failure to gain public trust but stressed that reforms should not undermine the core function of the prosecution system, which is to uncover the substantive truth and protect victims.

Koo expressed his apprehensions regarding the revision, pointing out that it forces prosecutors to rely solely on investigative records to decide on indictments, complicating efforts to protect victims. "The revision was passed, without such considerations, and I cannot but hide my disappointment and despair," Koo remarked. He urged for a thorough review of the bill, even if sent to the government, to ensure it does not create policy gaps or fail to protect the public.