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President Lee Cautions Against Complete Abolition of Prosecution's Investigation Rights, Urges Assembly Discussion

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • South Korean President Lee Jae-myung expressed concerns about completely abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights, warning of potential future problems.
  • He suggested that while supplementary investigations should generally not occur, completely blocking them, even in exceptional cases, could lead to issues.
  • President Lee urged the National Assembly to thoroughly discuss the matter, emphasizing the need to prevent political manipulation and ensure a balanced approach.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has voiced concerns regarding the complete abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights, a key point in ongoing legislative reforms. While acknowledging that supplementary investigations should ideally be minimized, President Lee cautioned that completely eliminating them, even in rare circumstances, could create future complications.

Supplementary investigations should not be conducted, but if we completely block even exceptional cases where there is no room for abuse, problems may arise later.

— President Lee Jae-myungExpressing his view on the complete abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights.

Speaking at a press briefing following his European tour, President Lee stated that the National Assembly should make its own judgment on the matter. He elaborated on his perspective, noting that while the prosecution's power might be perceived as excessive, the focus should be on preventing its abuse. "If there is a possibility of abuse, it should be prevented. If there are problems, they should be blocked," he said, adding that abandoning the measure entirely is not necessary at this stage.

The president emphasized the importance of public will and controlling potential prosecutorial overreach. He expressed understanding for those who fear abuse of power but reiterated that strict conditions and minimal application could suffice. He likened the situation to preventing issues before they arise, suggesting that if problems persist despite preventative measures, then more drastic actions could be considered.

If there is a possibility of abuse, it should be prevented. If there are problems, they should be blocked.

— President Lee Jae-myungSuggesting a balanced approach to managing investigation rights.

President Lee urged lawmakers to engage in comprehensive discussions, free from political self-interest. He highlighted that the issue was transferred to the National Assembly precisely to avoid political controversy and allow for thorough deliberation. "The authority has been given, so responsibility will also be taken," he remarked, indicating his expectation that the legislature would reach a responsible conclusion.

The authority has been given, so responsibility will also be taken.

— President Lee Jae-myungOn the National Assembly's role in discussing the legislative reform.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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