South Korean senior prosecutors expressed their intent to resign on Wednesday in apparent opposition to a move that would empower police to open investigations.

Senior Prosecutor Hong Man-pyo offered his resignation amid deepening tension surrounding the revision of the criminal procedure code.

Four other prosecutors offered their resignations in a collective move later in the day.

The resignations came one day after the parliament's legislation and judiciary committee approved a revised version of the bill after amending some parts of the original one.

Prosecutors argue that the amendments came against their will.

The prosecution and police agreed on June 20 on a compromise to revise the criminal procedure code, allowing police investigators to open and proceed with a criminal investigations.

Under the current law, prosecutors have the exclusive right to open an investigation.

(Yonhap News)