Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok said on the 26th that he was "sorry" that the government organization act, centered on abolishing the Prosecutors' Office, passed the National Assembly plenary session, but added that he "respects the National Assembly's decision." Noh made the remarks when asked by reporters on his way home that day for his "position on the passage of the government organization act."
Noh said, "We will do our utmost to ensure that the criminal justice system proceeds without gaps and without setbacks." To the questions, "What do you think about the view that the prosecution leadership failed to show leadership?" and "What do you think about the claim that the prosecution is not a constitutional institution?" he said, "I will speak on another occasion."
The National Assembly held a plenary session that afternoon and passed the government organization act that includes abolishing the Prosecutors' Office and establishing the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. It passed with 174 in favor, 1 against, and 3 abstentions out of 180 present. The Prosecutors' Office will be abolished for the first time in 78 years and become the Public Prosecution Office under the Ministry of Justice in September next year. The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency will be established under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The ruling party and the government plan to further discuss contentious issues, including whether to maintain the prosecution's supplementary investigative authority during a one-year grace period.