(LEAD) Ruling party introduces key prosecution reform bill at plenary session, triggering filibuster from main opposition | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK (ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with filibuster; CHANGES photo) By Yi Wonju SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Thursday introduced a prosecution reform bill aimed at separating investigative and indictment powers at a parliamentary plenary session, prompting the main opposition party to launch a filibuster. During the plenary session, the main opposition People Power Party launched a filibuster in protest, after the DP brought the bill to establish an indictment agency to the floor. The National Assembly holds a plenary session on March 19, 2026. (Yonhap) julesyi@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Ruling party set to push prosecution reform bills at plenary session DP to push for plenary vote on prosecution reform bills this week Lee reaffirms commitment to measured prosecution reform Lee calls for cautious approach to prosecution reform amid hard-line DP push Keywords #prosecution reform #politics Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert Most Saved Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life (2nd LD) N. Korea's national sports festival prev (LEAD) Ruling party introduces key prosecution reform bill at plenary session, triggering filibuster from main opposition Next (LEAD) Ruling party introduces key prosecution reform bill at plenary session, triggering filibuster from main opposition

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OK
(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with filibuster; CHANGES photo)
By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Thursday introduced a prosecution reform bill aimed at separating investigative and indictment powers at a parliamentary plenary session, prompting the main opposition party to launch a filibuster.
In what would be a major overhaul of the prosecution service, the bills are follow-up measures to a government reorganization law that will abolish the existing prosecution service structure in October and outline the framework for launching new investigative and indictment agencies in the same month.
During the plenary session, the main opposition People Power Party launched a filibuster in protest, after the DP brought the bill to establish an indictment agency to the floor.
Under the bill, the indictment agency will only handle indictments, while a separate body, the so-called serious crimes investigation agency, will have powers to open investigations into crimes involving corruption and economic offenses, among others.
No change was made to the title of the agency's chief, which will remain "prosecutor general."
The government has pushed for the prosecution service to separate its exclusive authority of both indictment and investigation, amid criticism that such power is excessive.
The DP, which holds a majority in the Assembly, plans to unilaterally push through the bill when the filibuster's 24-hour deadline ends Friday.
It is also expected to push for a parliamentary investigation into allegations of what it described as fabricated indictments under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, covering the 2015 Daejang-dong development project in Seongnam when President Lee Jae Myung was the city's mayor, as well as an illegal remittance case to North Korea in 2019.
A filibuster involves lawmakers holding the floor for extended periods as a way to prevent a parliamentary vote or delay the passage of a bill. Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster can be stopped after 24 hours if at least three-fifths of all parliament members, or 180 lawmakers, consent to it.
The National Assembly holds a plenary session on March 19, 2026. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)
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(LEAD) Ruling party introduces key prosecution reform bill at plenary session, triggering filibuster from main opposition
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(LEAD) Ruling party introduces key prosecution reform bill at plenary session, triggering filibuster from main opposition

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Korea committed to expanding nuclear, missile programs; poses 'significant' threats to S.

### Areas for Consideration
- No change was made to the title of the agency's chief, which will remain "prosecutor general." The government has pushed for the prosecution service to separate its exclusive authority of both indictment and investigation, amid criticism that such power is excessive.
- The National Assembly holds a plenary session on March 19, 2026. (Yonhap) julesyi@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Ruling party set to push prosecution reform bills at plenary session DP to push for plenary vote on prosecution reform bills this week Lee reaffirms commitment to measured prosecution reform Lee calls for cautious approach to prosecution reform amid hard-line DP push Keywords #prosecution reform #politics Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert Most Saved Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life (2nd LD) N.

### Implications
- OK (ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with filibuster; CHANGES photo) By Yi Wonju SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Thursday introduced a prosecution reform bill aimed at separating investigative and indictment powers at a parliamentary plenary session, prompting the main opposition party to launch a filibuster.
- In what would be a major overhaul of the prosecution service, the bills are follow-up measures to a government reorganization law that will abolish the existing prosecution service structure in October and outline the framework for launching new investigative and indictment agencies in the same month.
- Under the bill, the indictment agency will only handle indictments, while a separate body, the so-called serious crimes investigation agency, will have powers to open investigations into crimes involving corruption and economic offenses, among others.
- No change was made to the title of the agency's chief, which will remain "prosecutor general." The government has pushed for the prosecution service to separate its exclusive authority of both indictment and investigation, amid criticism that such power is excessive.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers prosecution, korea, filibuster topics. Notable strengths include discussion of prosecution. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 686.