President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that the police will soon wield the greatest power among government agencies and called for a government body to oversee police reform. He made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting after a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act passed, which would strip the prosecution of investigative authority and leave it solely to the police. Lee cited public concern over recent police failures, including a Jeju missing-person case. He told the prime minister’s office to gather public input and devise a plan for the reform body.
President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps
President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday the police will soon wield the greatest power among government agencies, calling for the formation of a government body to be in charge of police reform.
The president made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting following the recent passage of a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, which, when enacted, will completely strip the prosecution of all investigative authority, leaving such power solely to the police.
They also come after the discovery of the presumed body of a woman reported missing on the southern Jeju Island. A police officer on Jeju reportedly closed the missing person case without confirming her whereabouts or safety, prompting a public outcry over lax police investigations.
