Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung highlighted the importance of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
- A recent legal revision has transferred exclusive investigative authority from prosecutors to the police.
- Lee acknowledged public concerns about the police's investigative capabilities and trustworthiness.
- He emphasized the need to ensure adequate measures are in place to address these concerns.
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday stressed the need to address public concerns over police's investigative capabilities following a recent legal revision that abolished prosecutors' authority to conduct investigations, leaving it solely with the police.
"As the police come to have the authority to finalize cases on their own, the public is worried about whether police capabilities are sufficient and trustworthy," Lee said during a session receiving policy briefings from the justice and interior ministries and other government agencies.
Lee's remarks came a day after the Cabinet, presided over by him, approved the promulgation of the revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, which passed through the National Assembly last week. The bill strips prosecutors of their authority to conduct direct investigations, including supplementary investigations, leaving investigative authority solely with the police.
The revision was pushed by the ruling Democratic Party after prosecutors were accused of abusing their investigative powers and, at times, intervening in high-profile political cases. The revision also raised public concerns that exclusive police investigative powers could undermine the overall quality of investigations.
"The situation would not be resolved 100 percent if prosecutors retain their existing (authority to) conduct supplementary investigations, but removing it is increasing the concerns," the president said, also checking whether proper measures are being prepared to address such public concerns.