President Lee Jae-myung presided over a cabinet meeting on Tuesday where the government passed an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act [1].
The move effectively abolishes the direct investigative powers of the prosecution, marking a significant shift in the South Korean legal system. By separating the authority to investigate from the authority to prosecute, the administration aims to restructure the balance of power within the judiciary.
President Lee said the legal change was an "inevitable measure of sapil-gwijeong" [2], a term referring to the principle that justice will eventually prevail. The legislation had previously passed the National Assembly's plenary session on July 31 [3].
Beyond judicial reform, the president used the meeting to emphasize the necessity of reforming the real estate tax system [1]. This focus on taxation comes amid ongoing debates regarding the financial burden on citizens, and the effectiveness of current property levies.
Reactions to these policy shifts remain divided. Choi Chang-ryeol, a special professor at Yongin University, highlighted the burden of current tax structures on salaried workers. "Looking at this, in my case, I am someone who has lived my whole life as a salaried employee, and they really take a lot from the salary," Choi said [4]. He said the system often feels like a "glass wallet" due to the nature of withholding taxes [4].
While the administration views these changes as essential for justice and economic fairness, opposing political figures, including former People Power Party supreme council member Kim Jong-hyuk, have reflected the differing temperatures between the ruling and opposition camps regarding the scale and direction of these reforms [1].
“"inevitable measure of sapil-gwijeong"”
The removal of direct investigative powers from prosecutors represents a fundamental overhaul of South Korea's criminal justice architecture. By stripping the prosecution of its ability to initiate investigations, the government is attempting to curb the concentrated power of the prosecution office, which has historically been a flashpoint of political tension. Coupled with the real estate tax reforms, these actions signal a presidency focused on aggressive institutional restructuring and economic redistribution.
