{
  "id": 11288952,
  "title": "Korea abolishes Prosecutors' Office after 78 years, putting new criminal justice system to test",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/korea-abolishes-prosecutors-office-after-78-years-putting-new",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T22:02:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/law-crime/20261002/korea-abolishes-prosecutors-office-after-78-years-putting-new-criminal-justice-system-to-test"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea has dismantled the Supreme Prosecutors' Office after a 78-year tenure, introducing two new state agencies to share investigations and prosecution responsibilities as part of a major overhaul of the nation's criminal justice system. Effective Friday, the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) will take charge of major investigations, alongside the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). Meanwhile, the new Prosecution Service will review cases, decide on indictments, request warrants from courts based on investigative agency applications, and handle prosecutions in court.\n\nHowever, the transition to the new system has raised several questions. The agencies' jurisdictions may overlap, creating uncertainty about how cases will be handled. Additionally, it is unclear if prosecutors will be able to maintain adequate oversight without their own investigative authority. Furthermore, concerns exist regarding whether the new agencies are properly staffed and equipped to manage complex major-crime investigations. In the weeks leading up to the overhaul, the prosecutor's office had been preparing for the changes.",
  "summary": "Korea on Friday abolished the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office after 78 years and launched two new state agencies dividing its investigative and prosecutorial powers, ushering in one of the most sweeping changes to the country’s criminal justice system in decades. Under the new framework taking effect Friday, investigations will be divided among the newly established Serious Crimes Investigation…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korea abolishes Prosecutors' Office after 78 years, putting new criminal justice system to test",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/korea-abolishes-prosecutors-office-after-78-years-putting-new-11292511",
        "published": "2026-10-01T22:17:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}