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South Korean police have outlined a series of measures to enhance the fairness of investigations as the country's revised Criminal Procedure Act prepares to take effect, a change that transfers direct investigative authority from prosecutors to police. President Lee Jae Myung has hailed the revision as "the beginning of judicial normalization."

The revision, which passed the National Assembly last week in a vote boycotted by the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), strips prosecutors of their authority to conduct direct investigations, including supplementary investigations, leaving investigative authority solely with the police, as reported by Yonhap News.

Coverage Comparison

Yonhap News reported that the Cabinet approved the promulgation of the revision on August 4, following its passage through the National Assembly. The approval came after a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee, who the same day faced calls from the opposition to veto the bill.

While all reports agree on the core facts, President Lee's framing of the bill was highlighted across reports, with his description of it as "the beginning of judicial normalization" serving as a central quote in several articles. The police's subsequent reform measures, announced on August 7 during a meeting at the National Police Agency, were covered as forward-looking steps to prepare for the new legal landscape.

Key Claims

  • The Cabinet approved the promulgation of the revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, which strips prosecutors of their authority to conduct direct investigations, including supplementary investigations, leaving investigative authority solely with the police.
  • President Lee Jae Myung defended the legal revision as "the beginning of judicial normalization" and signaled his intention to sign the bill into law despite calls from the opposition party to veto it.
  • The police discussed measures to strengthen the fairness of investigations, including transferring cases involving family members of police officers to a different branch and launching an internal audit unit to probe irregularities.
The opposition party called for President Lee Jae Myung to veto the bill, arguing that it would only benefit criminals.

The revision to the Criminal Procedure Act is set to go into effect on October 2.

The police will be barred from investigating cases involving family members, and additional safeguards will be introduced based on recommendations from human rights and police reform bodies.

The president instructed officials to ensure that workers can exercise their rights to suspend work over excessive heat and to expand heat shelters and public access to them.