Key facts
- South Korea's Cabinet approved a legal revision.
- The revision removes prosecutors' direct investigative powers.
- Investigative powers are transferred to the police.
- President Lee Jae Myung called the move "the beginning of judicial normalization."
- The top police investigator vowed to enhance investigation quality.
- Police will improve investigation completeness before sending cases to prosecutors.
- The legislative change removed prosecutors' direct and supplementary investigation powers.
South Korea's Cabinet has approved a significant legal revision that strips prosecutors of their direct investigative powers, a move that transfers these authorities to the police. President Lee Jae Myung has lauded the change, stating it marks "the beginning of judicial normalization." This legislative action fundamentally alters the landscape of criminal investigations in the country, shifting a core function from the prosecution to law enforcement agencies.