It comes after a series of related bills pushed by the ruling Democratic Party, which holds a parliamentary majority, were passed by the National Assembly last week amid a boycott by the main opposition People Power Party.
Under the plans, the Prosecutors' Office will be shut down in October next year, nearly 80 years after its establishment in 1947, and its investigative and prosecutorial powers will be transferred over a year-long transition period to two new agencies, one under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the other under the Ministry of Justice.
The change aims to address longstanding criticism that the prosecution has abused its extensive powers to carry out politically motivated investigations.
As another part of the government restructuring plans, the Ministry of Economy and Finance will be split into two, with its budget-related functions to be supervised by the Prime Minister's Office, effective from the first day of next year.
The move has already raised suspicions among critics that Lee may seek to tap into state coffers to implement his populist policies.
Additionally, the Ministry of Environment will be renamed the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment, taking on energy-related responsibilities except for nuclear power, which will remain under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, now renamed the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Relevant acts were amended to reflect these changes accordingly, and the National Assembly's committees were streamlined to align with the new ministries.
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