What did President Lee Jae Myung say about police reform and investigation cover-ups?

Lee called for thorough police reform to root out cover-ups and other irregularities in investigations. He said expanded police authority must be matched by stronger external scrutiny and internal checks.

Why does Lee say the new criminal justice system needs stronger oversight?

Lee said the new system could create risks unless police reform keeps pace with the shift in authority. He stressed that citizens should not face undue damage and that justice, victim protection and investigative capability must not weaken during implementation.

Lee calls for police reform to root out cover-ups, irregularities in investigations

Q: What changes are coming with the launch of the SCIA and Public Prosecution Service?

The Public Prosecution Service will handle indictments and maintaining indictments, while the SCIA will investigate corruption, defense industry crimes, insurrection and other serious crimes. Lee said this will end the era when prosecutors handled both investigations and indictments.

Listen

Summary

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday called for police reform at Cheong Wa Dae, urging stronger checks to prevent cover-ups and irregularities in investigations. His remarks came a day before the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Service were set to launch under prosecution reform. Lee said the new system would end prosecutors’ dual role in investigations and indictments and require tighter scrutiny as police authority expands.

Key Facts

The president said prosecutors will only indict and maintain indictments, while the SCIA will investigate corruption, defense industry crimes, insurrection and other serious crimes.
Lee said the new criminal justice system will operate under the principle of checks and balances.
He urged that strong and tangible reform measures be taken to prevent cover-ups of cases and corruption involving investigations.
Lee warned that citizens should not suffer undue damage and that investigation capability, justice and victim protection must be maintained during the transition.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 1, 2026 4:48 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with his key aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday renewed his call for thorough police reform to root out any cover-ups and other irregularities in investigations, as police are set to assume greater investigative authority under the recent revision to the Criminal Procedure Act.

The president made the call during a meeting with his key aides at Cheong Wa Dae, a day before the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) is set to launch, along with the Public Prosecution Service, as part of the prosecution reform aimed at stripping the prosecution of investigative rights.

Renamed as the Public Prosecution Service, prosecutors will only be tasked with indicting and maintaining indictments against suspects, while the SCIA will conduct investigations into corruption, defense industry crimes, insurrection and other serious crimes.

Lee said the launch of the two agencies will end the era during which prosecutors wielded the authority to conduct both investigation and indictments, and acted as political prosecutors, targeting political foes and subjecting them to persecution.

"A new criminal justice system will begin to operate in compliance with the principle of checks and balances," he said.

The redistribution of authority will also compel the need for police reform, the president stressed, adding, "As its authority expands, external scrutiny and internal checks should be more thoroughly carried out."

The president, in particular, stressed that "strong and tangible reform measures" should be taken to prevent any cover-up of cases or corruption involving investigations.

"Utmost efforts should be made to ensure that citizens are not subject to undue damage and there are no lapses in investigation capabilities, justice and the protection of victims in the process of establishing the new system," he said.

Explore More