South Korea’s Cabinet approved landmark legislation Tuesday stripping prosecutors of their longstanding prosecutorial powers entirely. President Lee Jae Myung chaired this meeting, finalizing the country’s most sweeping criminal justice overhaul. This approval followed the National Assembly’s passage four days earlier amid opposition boycotts.
During the meeting, Lee confirmed he would not veto this controversial legislative overhaul. He argued the bill met none of the constitutional thresholds required for presidential rejection. Consequently, Lee defended the reform while acknowledging significant public disagreement over its implications.
Under this overhaul, police will now handle criminal investigations previously managed under prosecutorial powers directly. Additionally, a new serious crimes agency will operate under the Interior Ministry going forward. Meanwhile, prosecutors will transition into a restructured office focused solely on courtroom prosecution.
This represents South Korea’s most significant justice system change since 1954’s original legislation. The overhaul takes effect October 2, with various provisions phasing in over subsequent years. Lee described separating investigations from prosecution as essential toward normalizing the justice system.
According to Lee, concentrated prosecutorial powers had historically enabled abuse throughout South Korea’s justice system. He specifically criticized targeted investigations and fishing expeditions that caused significant harm to innocent individuals. However, Lee also warned that expanded police authority could create new oversight challenges.
Therefore, he called for additional safeguards ensuring accountability alongside this dramatic shift in authority. Lee emphasized that misconduct during investigations should result in serious consequences for officers involved. Acting police commissioner Yoo Jae-sung pledged thorough preparation and acceptance of continued oversight measures.
Separately, the Cabinet approved legislation establishing a special counsel investigating election commission mismanagement allegations. This investigation will examine ballot shortages and broader concerns from June’s local elections specifically. The appointed counsel will have ninety days to complete investigations, extendable by sixty additional days.
Moving forward, implementing this justice system overhaul will require careful monitoring to prevent power imbalances. Given historical concerns about unchecked authority, sustained oversight will likely shape public trust significantly.
