Korean Parliament Braces for Heated Battle Over Prosecution Reform as State Audit Looms

With South Korea's annual parliamentary state audit just 24 days away, the ruling and opposition parties have entered into an all-out political warfare over controversial prosecution reform bills on September 19, 2025. The Democratic Party is pushing to pass three major prosecution reform bills and media reform legislation before the Chuseok holiday (September 25), while the conservative People Power Party is mounting fierce resistance.

Democratic Party's Aggressive Legislative Push

For American readers, this political confrontation reflects the ongoing struggle between South Korea's liberal and conservative factions over the independence and scope of prosecutorial power—an issue that has dominated Korean politics for decades. Unlike the U.S. system where federal prosecutors are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, South Korea's Prosecutor General serves a two-year term and wields significant investigative powers that often extend into political matters.

Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae announced during the party's supreme council meeting that "prosecutorial reform and media reform are urgent tasks that can no longer be delayed." He emphasized the party's determination to pass the legislation within the week, stating, "We will ensure the Korean people can enjoy Chuseok peacefully by completing these reforms."

The three prosecution reform bills include shortening the Prosecutor General's term, limiting prosecutorial investigative powers, and expanding the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). This office, similar to how the FBI investigates federal officials in the United States, was established in 2021 to investigate corruption among high-ranking government officials, including the president, judges, and prosecutors themselves.

Kim Byung-gi, the Democratic Party's floor leader, argued that "the political bias of the prosecution and government has become even clearer since the Constitutional Court's decision to invalidate Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment." He added, "Now is the time to secure political neutrality of power institutions through institutional reform."

Conservative Opposition Mounts Strong Resistance

The conservative People Power Party immediately pushed back against these legislative efforts. Party leader Han Dong-hoon criticized the Democratic Party's unilateral approach as "hasty legislation that undermines the basic functions of the National Assembly." He characterized the timing as particularly problematic, saying, "Forcing through political bills ahead of the state audit is a betrayal of the Korean people."

For American observers, this dynamic resembles partisan battles in the U.S. Congress, but with a key difference: South Korea's opposition parties can employ more aggressive parliamentary tactics, including unlimited filibusters that can last for days or even weeks. People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho declared the party would "mobilize all legal means, including filibusters, to block these dangerous bills that undermine judicial independence under the guise of prosecution reform."

The conservatives are particularly opposed to the bill shortening the Prosecutor General's term, viewing it as targeted legislation aimed at the current prosecutor general. In the U.S. context, this would be similar to Congress attempting to shorten the FBI Director's term specifically to remove a sitting director—a move that would likely face constitutional challenges.

October State Audit Intensifies Political Tensions

This confrontation is occurring just weeks before South Korea's annual parliamentary state audit, scheduled for October 13-31, 2025. Unlike the U.S. system where congressional oversight is conducted through various committee hearings throughout the year, South Korea concentrates its parliamentary oversight into a intensive three-week period where all government ministries and agencies must appear before National Assembly committees.

During this period, opposition legislators can aggressively question government officials, request documents, and expose policy failures—making it the opposition's most powerful tool for holding the ruling party accountable. A political insider noted, "The Democratic Party's push to pass prosecution reform before the state audit is a strategic move to gain advantage during the audit process on prosecution-related issues."

This year's state audit carries additional significance because it will be the first under President Lee Jae-myung's administration. Lee, who took office in June 2025 following former President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, will face his first major parliamentary scrutiny. For American readers, this situation is somewhat analogous to a new U.S. president facing their first major congressional investigation, but compressed into a much shorter timeframe with more intensive scrutiny.

Presidential Approval and Political Implications

Adding to the political complexity, President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating has dropped to 60% according to a Gallup Korea poll conducted September 16-18 among 1,001 adults nationwide—a 2 percentage point decline from the previous week. While this approval rating would be considered strong by U.S. standards (where presidential approval often fluctuates between 35-55%), the decline suggests that the intense political confrontation is beginning to affect public perception.

The timing is crucial for President Lee, whose administration is still in its early months. In the South Korean political system, where presidents serve a single five-year term and cannot seek re-election, maintaining strong approval ratings is essential for implementing policy agendas and maintaining party unity ahead of legislative elections.

Broader Context of Korean Political Reform

This battle over prosecution reform reflects deeper structural issues in South Korean democracy. Unlike the U.S. system with its checks and balances between co-equal branches of government, South Korea's presidential system concentrates significant power in the executive branch, while the prosecution service has historically wielded outsized influence in investigating political figures.

For American readers familiar with debates over DOJ independence and special counsel investigations, the Korean situation presents similar tensions but with different institutional arrangements. The prosecution service in South Korea has been involved in investigating every former president since democratization in the 1980s, creating ongoing tensions between political accountability and prosecutorial independence.

As the week progresses, all eyes will be on whether the Democratic Party can overcome conservative resistance and pass their reform agenda before Chuseok, and how this confrontation will shape the upcoming state audit. The outcome will likely influence the trajectory of President Lee's early presidency and set the tone for political battles throughout the remainder of 2025.

Original Korean article: 국정감사 D-24, 여야 '검찰개혁 3법' 놓고 전면전 돌입

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Original Article (Korean): Read in Korean