Over 30% of arrest warrant requests rejected by prosecutors this year: data
The proportion of arrest warrants filed by police that were rejected by prosecutors surpassed 30 percent for the first time this year, data showed Sunday. According to the Public Prosecution Service, police filed for a total of 26,961 requests for arrest warrants between January and August this year. Of them, 9,186, or 34.1 percent, were rejected by prosecutors. It marked the first time the…
For the first time this year, prosecutors have rejected over 30 percent of arrest warrant requests submitted by police, according to data released on Sunday. The Public Prosecution Service reported that police filed a total of 26,961 requests for arrest warrants between January and August, with 9,186, or 34.1 percent, being rejected by prosecutors.
This marks the first time the rejection rate for arrest warrant requests has exceeded the 30 percent threshold. The rejection rate has been on the rise since it stood at 22.8 percent in 2021, increasing to 26.8 percent in 2025. Police investigators have expressed frustration, stating that prosecutors have become less willing to issue warrants requested by them as part of a significant overhaul of the prosecution system.
In a recent move, South Korea disbanded the prosecution office for the first time in 78 years, establishing two new agencies that separate investigative and indictment powers, following years of criticism that the prosecution had excessive authority. The data also revealed that prosecutors' rejection rate for police requests continues to rise.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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