Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung announced on Tuesday that the police will soon become the most powerful government agency, urging the creation of a dedicated government body to oversee police reform. The statement was made during a Cabinet meeting following the recent approval of a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, which will eventually remove all investigative authority from the prosecution, leaving it solely to the police.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the call for reform comes in the wake of the discovery of a presumed deceased woman on Jeju Island, whose missing person case was prematurely closed by a local police officer without confirming her status, leading to public criticism of police investigation practices. President Lee expressed concerns about whether the police are equipped to handle such extensive authority and emphasized the need for reform and oversight.

President Lee instructed the prime minister's office to solicit public input and develop a plan to establish the proposed reform body. "The police may exercise the greatest power among government agencies," he stated, acknowledging public concern over this shift in authority. He highlighted recent incidents that underscored the police's lack of accountability and called for systemic changes to address these issues.

President Lee further stressed the need for a balanced distribution of power, noting that concentrated authority often leads to problems, and accountability should be strengthened to reflect the level of power held. Additionally, he addressed other national issues, advocating for a "productive finance strategy" to support future growth and cautioning against focusing solely on financial statistics.

The president's remarks coincided with government and National Assembly preparations for next year's budget, anticipating increased tax revenues from a semiconductor boom linked to artificial intelligence advancements. He urged officials to leverage these opportunities for tangible improvements in citizens' lives, emphasizing industrial competitiveness and reducing asset disparity.

President Lee also called for expedited progress on revising the minimum age of criminal responsibility, expressing hope for swift enactment following public consultation. The government is considering lowering the age from 14 to address rising adolescent crime rates.