President Lee: "Prosecution's Power Has Grown... Selectively Punishing Only Those They Dislike"

President Lee Jae-myung has voiced strong concerns regarding the expanding influence of the prosecution service, describing the current situation as a "prosecutor-led state" where judicial authority is wielded for political ends. During a State Council meeting, he asserted that the principle of legality, which dictates that punishment must be strictly defined by law, has been eroded.

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Prosecutorial power has become too great, to the point that it has become a prosecutor-led state. We have reached a situation where judicial power is used to engage in politics.

President Lee criticized the ambiguity and manipulation of legal provisions, stating that this lack of clear standards has led to a primitive form of social order. He pointed out that prosecutorial power has become so immense that actions warranting only moral criticism, disciplinary measures, or administrative penalties can be subjected to severe criminal punishment based solely on the prosecutor's discretion.

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The principle of legality has collapsed. Actions that are subject to moral criticism, disciplinary action, or administrative penalties can be subjected to immense criminal punishment depending on the prosecutor's discretion.

Furthermore, the President highlighted the ineffectiveness of certain legal stipulations, such as those imposing fines below five million won, arguing they serve no real deterrent purpose and represent a waste of public resources. He condemned the practice of reserving the application of certain laws, like a one-year prison sentence, for individuals deemed unfavorable, suggesting this selective enforcement undermines justice.

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Provisions are ambiguous, and they are expanded and manipulated. As a result, it has become the most primitive society without standards.

"We must sort this out now," President Lee declared, calling for a fundamental reform of the prosecutorial system. His remarks signal a strong intent to curb unchecked prosecutorial power and re-establish clear, objective legal standards, ensuring that the judiciary serves justice rather than political agendas.

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Why waste public power? A one-year prison sentence is not applied normally, but only when they single out someone they dislike and say, 'There is such a provision.' We must sort this out now.