President Lee Criticizes Ministries for Lawsuits Over Information Disclosure

President Lee Jae-myung on Tuesday urged government ministries to be more transparent and communicative with the public, criticizing their tendency to delay information disclosure through prolonged legal battles.

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The ministries are constantly filing lawsuits over information disclosure requests, delaying the release of information until after legal proceedings. Even after court rulings, they continue to appeal and file further appeals, dragging out the process and withholding information.

"The ministries are constantly filing lawsuits over information disclosure requests, delaying the release of information until after legal proceedings," Lee said during a State Council meeting at the presidential office. "Even after court rulings, they continue to appeal and file further appeals, dragging out the process and withholding information."

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When courts rule in favor of the plaintiff, it means the government's initial judgment was flawed.

Lee stressed that this administrative opacity breeds public distrust. He argued that citizens generally accept reasonable decisions regarding information requests, whether for public interest or other purposes. "When courts rule in favor of the plaintiff, it means the government's initial judgment was flawed," he stated, emphasizing that information and administrative processes should be transparent by principle.

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This administrative opacity breeds public distrust.

Responding to the President's remarks, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo pledged to review the current situation and assess the status of information disclosure across ministries.

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We will review the ministry-specific status and assess the situation.