Lee calls for urgent overhaul of prosecution, police

By Kim Se-jeong

Staff reporter

President Lee Myung-bak renewed his call for an overhaul of law-enforcement authorities Sunday as police and prosecution officials were being investigated for suspected irregularities.

During a meeting on national financial strategy, Lee described the reform of the police and the prosecution as a big task, saying that changing their deep-rooted system and culture is urgent.

The meeting, held at the Central Officials Training Institute in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, was attended by Cabinet ministers and other key government post-holders.

"Korean prosecutors and police have lost the trust of the people. What worries me the most is that these wrongdoings could become a common practice," he said.

Lee's remarks came days after Park Gi-joon, a senior prosecutor at the Busan Prosecutors' Office, offered to resign over allegations that he had received bribes and sexual entertainment from a businessman for years.

A police officer was dismissed late last month on suspicions of attempted rape.

The scandal allegedly involving prosecutors broke out as MBC-TV's investigative journal PD Notebook reported that a businessman, identified only by his surname Chung, had maintained corrupt ties with Park and some 50 other prosecutors for more than 20 years.

The businessman himself appeared on the program, and it has rattled the country.

Referring to the scandal, President Lee showed disdain for the prosecutors' misconduct that stems from a lack of professionalism.

"Prosecutors and police officers are often looked up to because of what they do to uphold justice in society, and therefore they are supposed to behave better."

President Lee called for more studies on how to use the budget more effectively.

He asked economic ministers to be more attentive when they map out next year's budget.

Touching on the sinking of the Navy ship Cheonan in late March, Lee urged the Ministry of Defense to bolster the defense system, so it would "reflect the reality of national security."

Yet, he praised management during the latest financial crisis. "Fortunately, sound financial management over the last two years enabled Korea to escape the crisis quickly, and we need to maintain this."