Seoul: The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a significant legal revision that abolishes prosecutors' authority to conduct direct investigations, a move that President Lee Jae Myung has termed as "the beginning of judicial normalization."
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Cabinet, under the leadership of President Lee, gave the green light to the promulgation of the revision to the Criminal Procedure Act. This approval follows its passage through the National Assembly last week in a vote that was boycotted by the main opposition, the People Power Party (PPP). The new legislation transfers investigative authority solely to the police, removing prosecutors' ability to conduct direct and supplementary investigations.
In cases where supplementary investigations are required, prosecutors must now request the police to carry them out, with the police given a two-month timeframe to complete these investigations. President Lee, at the Cabinet meeting, underscored the revision as a crucial step towards "normalizing the abnormal criminal justice system" and expressed his intent to sign the bill into law, despite opposition calls for a veto.
The PPP, in response, convened its Supreme Council meeting near Cheong Wa Dae, urging the president to reject the revision, arguing it could potentially benefit criminals. However, President Lee emphasized that the presidential veto should be reserved for situations threatening constitutional order or the separation of powers, which he argued was not the case with this bill.
The president criticized the historical "excessive" authority wielded by prosecutors, which included the right to request court warrants and sometimes misuse their power. Despite this, Lee acknowledged that transferring investigative authority exclusively to the police might lead to unforeseen issues and urged the development of complementary systems to maintain transparency and capability in police investigations.
Lee also called on prosecutors to remain committed to their role as defenders of public interest and human rights, while urging the police to eliminate internal irregularities and enhance victim protection. He stressed the importance of overseeing the implementation of the new system and addressing any shortcomings promptly.
Beyond judicial reforms, President Lee addressed the ongoing heat wave affecting South Korea, which has seen temperatures soar past 40 C in parts of the country. He declared the situation a state disaster and instructed officials to take immediate and comprehensive measures to protect lives, particularly focusing on vulnerable populations and outdoor workers. He emphasized the need for workers' rights to suspend work due to excessive heat and called for the expansion of heat shelters and public access to them.