Lee calls for police's internal reform amid shift in investigative authority

SEOUL, September 3 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung urged the police to undertake significant internal reform in response to a legal change that will transfer all investigative authority to the police. During a meeting with his senior advisors, Lee stressed the need for reform following the recent passage of a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act.

This new law will entirely strip the prosecution of investigative powers, leaving all such authority to the police. Ahead of the transition, the police have faced public criticism after a police officer in Jeju, a southern island, was accused of closing multiple missing-person cases without verifying the safety of those reported missing. Tragically, two of these individuals were later found deceased.

Lee emphasized that the police should commit to an urgent and comprehensive internal overhaul, addressing any flaws in their case processing practices and systems. The president highlighted recent instances of police misconduct as a critical weakness in public safety management, calling for measures to guarantee the protection of people's lives and rights.

The ultimate objective of all reform efforts is to bring about tangible improvements in people's lives, according to Lee, who instructed officials to establish a reliable public safety system.