What did President Lee Jae Myung say about exclusive police investigative authority?

Lee said the public is worried about whether the police have enough capability and trustworthiness to finalize cases on their own. He said the government is checking whether proper measures are being prepared to address those concerns.

Why was the Criminal Procedure Act revised to strip prosecutors of investigative power?

The revision was pushed by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea after prosecutors were accused of abusing their investigative powers and sometimes intervening in high-profile political cases. Lee also said concerns grew because removing prosecutors from supplementary investigations increased worries about police authority.

What happens to prosecutors under the new investigative system?

Prosecutors lose direct investigative authority, including supplementary investigations, and the police become the sole investigative body. The president said simply keeping supplementary investigations would not resolve all concerns, but removing them has intensified them.

Lee stresses addressing public concerns over exclusive police investigative authority

Listen

Summary

President Lee Jae Myung stressed in Seoul the need to address public concerns over police investigative capability after a legal revision left investigative authority solely with the police. He said the public worries whether police powers are sufficient and trustworthy. His remarks followed Cabinet approval of the Criminal Procedure Act revision, which strips prosecutors of direct and supplementary investigative powers.

Key Facts

The revised Criminal Procedure Act was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday after passing the National Assembly last week.
The bill strips prosecutors of authority to conduct direct investigations, including supplementary investigations, and leaves that power solely with the police.
The revision was pushed by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea after prosecutors were accused of abusing their investigative powers and intervening in high-profile political cases.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 5, 2026 9:05 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a policy briefing from the justice and interior ministries and other government agencies at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday stressed the need to address public concerns over police's investigative capabilities after a recent legal revision 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 of Korea 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.

Explore More