Special Prosecutor Needed for 'Manipulated Indictments,' But Withdrawal Power Debated

President Lee Jae-myung stated on his first anniversary press conference that a special prosecutor is necessary to investigate allegations of "manipulated indictments" in cases related to the Daejang-dong development, the inter-Korean currency exchange, and the West Sea civil servant shooting. He acknowledged that an investigation is unavoidable due to the numerous lawsuits and public questions surrounding these cases.

When asked about the contentious issue of whether a special prosecutor should have the authority to withdraw indictments, President Lee offered a measured response. He indicated that if investigations or indictments are found to be flawed, they should be withdrawn or corrected after reviewing the investigation's outcomes. However, he remained non-committal on the specific question of who should wield this power, a point that has become a major focus of political debate.

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There are countless lawsuits and various questions being raised, so it is unavoidable (to have a special prosecutor).

The article criticizes the president's lack of a definitive stance on the authority to withdraw indictments. It argues that this issue is a significant factor influencing the political landscape, particularly in the lead-up to the June 3 local elections. While acknowledging the political sensitivity for the president to comment on specific legislative details, the author contends that a clearer position was warranted, as the core of the current debate lies in the exercise of this withdrawal power, not the special prosecutor's appointment itself.

Furthermore, the piece raises concerns about the Democratic Party's proposed special prosecutor bill, which would grant the power to withdraw indictments to a special prosecutor appointed by the president. This, the article argues, could violate the legal principle that no one should be a judge in their own case and lead to conflicts of interest. The author concludes that just as correcting flawed investigations and indictments before a trial is essential for justice, granting the power to withdraw indictments to a president-appointed special prosecutor is also problematic.

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If the investigation and prosecution were wrong, they should be withdrawn or corrected, and if they were not wrong, they should be left as they are. We can judge after seeing the results of the investigation.