On Tuesday, May 3, President Moon Jae In signed the controversial bills which will "completely deprive the prosecution of investigative powers." This was done during his last cabinet meeting at The Blue House, before he leaves office on May 9.

At the cabinet meeting on the 3rd, President Moon voted to amend the Prosecutor's Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act, which were unilaterally handled by the Democratic Party, a revolution in the criminal justice process, which has been in effect for over 70 years, will become a reality.

The new bills will limit the powers of prosecutors, and they will only be able to open investigations on crimes related to finances and corruption. According to the Korean Joongang Daily, Moon Jae In stated, "The laws that we are promulgating today will reduce the scope of the prosecution’s investigation...This is to ensure the basic rights of the people while guaranteeing that the authorities in power are faithful to their original roles according to the principles of checks and balances and democratic control. Despite efforts and achievements, concerns about the political neutrality, fairness and selective justice of the prosecution have not been resolved. It has been evaluated that it is unlikely for the prosecution service to gain the public's trust. I think that’s why the National Assembly has gone one step further to strip the prosecution of its investigative powers.”

According to the Korea Times, "If the revised acts go into effect, they will prevent petitioners' from filing objections to a case which was not sent to the prosecution. This will impede whistle blowers and civic groups from filing petitions for a good cause,' the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said in a statement. 'Most civic groups, members of academia and legal experts are opposing the bills because of that problem."

Incoming President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was the chief prosecutor in convicting former presidents Park Geun Hye and Lee Myung Bak, stated he will veto the controversial prosecution reform bills.