Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl has continued his strong criticism against the ruling bloc’s attempt to fully separate the prosecution’s rights to investigate and indict, warning the move will lead to “fully prevailing corruption.” 

Yoon made the remarks in a meeting with reporters on Wednesday, directing his salvo at the ongoing push by the government and the ruling Democratic Party to create a new and separate investigative agency on grave crimes under the Justice Ministry. 

The plan comes as the prosecution had already seen part of its investigative authority diverted to the police after a series of bills were passed in parliament last year. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials(CIO) was also launched in January as part of prosecution reform. 

The chief prosecutor said such a move runs in substantial violation of the spirit of the Constitution and forgoes the country and the government’s constitutional duty. 

He said taking away investigative powers from the prosecution will only enable corruption to become more rampant. 

The remarks echo similar criticism he had made in an interview with a local daily on Tuesday, in which the top prosecutor warned against what he called a move to strip the prosecution of its investigative rights. He said it would be a backward step for democracy and the destruction of the constitutional spirit.

He declined to comment when asked whether he would be willing to risk his position to protest against the creation of the new investigative agency.