President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that he will not veto an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act abolishing the direct investigative authority of prosecutors [1].

This decision fundamentally alters the power dynamic of the South Korean legal system by stripping prosecutors of their ability to initiate investigations independently. The move is intended to separate the functions of investigation and prosecution to prevent the abuse of power within the judiciary.

The decision followed a Cabinet meeting held on Aug. 4, 2026 [1]. The amendment had previously passed through a National Assembly plenary session on Aug. 3, 2026 [2].

Lee said he found no justification for rejecting the legislation passed by the National Assembly. He said that the bill was not unconstitutional or unenforceable, nor was it harmful to national interests or intrusive on the authority of the executive branch [3].

"I do not believe the bill is so unconstitutional, unenforceable, harmful to national interests, or intrusive on the executive branch's authority as to justify rejecting legislation passed by the National Assembly," Lee said [3].

Despite the president's stance, the Justice Minister previously warned of potential side effects resulting from the amendment [2]. However, the president's refusal to exercise his veto power effectively approves the transition of investigative powers away from the prosecution service [1].

The legal shift focuses on the redistribution of authority, ensuring that the body bringing charges to court is not the same body that conducted the primary investigation. This restructuring is a central pillar of the current administration's efforts to reform the legal system in Seoul [1].

“President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that he will not veto an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act.”

The removal of direct investigative authority marks a significant shift in South Korea's governance, aiming to curb the perceived overreach of the prosecution service. By separating the power to investigate from the power to indict, the government seeks to create a system of checks and balances that reduces the likelihood of politically motivated prosecutions, though it may create short-term coordination challenges between different law enforcement agencies.