“Framework Possible Before Chuseok”, President Lee Jae-myung, during his first press conference on the 30th day of his term, stated, “The need for prosecutorial reform has increased. I believe it is a kind of consequence of our own actions.” At the press conference titled “30 Days of the President: Media Asks and the People Answer,” held at the Blue House’s State Guest House, President Lee stated, “Investigations targeting indictment as an objective and fabricating cases to fit the charges should never happen.”
President Lee emphasized, “Prosecutorial reform or judicial reform, including this, is a very important and realistic task.” He added, “During the Moon Jae-in government, there was significant public opposition to separating investigative and prosecutorial powers, but it seems there aren’t as many objections now. The necessity for reform has become greater since then.”
He further asserted, “It seems there is no disagreement on separating investigative and prosecutorial powers and that the same entity should not hold both powers simultaneously.”
President Lee also mentioned, “Presidential candidates from the Democratic Party are adamantly speaking about carrying out prosecutorial reform before Chuseok,” and he expressed optimism that “it might be possible to create the framework for the system by then.” However, he added, “It will take quite some time for the system to be fully established.”
He explained, “(Prosecutorial reform) isn’t an issue to be decided through a compromise within the government. It is a decision for the National Assembly to make legislatively, and the government’s role is to minimize the ensuing conflicts and side effects.” Regarding the recent appointments of Bong Wook as Senior Secretary for Political Affairs and Lee Jin-su as Minister of Justice, both former prosecutors, he noted, “We decided it would be beneficial to assign someone within the government who understands the prosecution well to handle prosecutorial reform.”