What did Park Chul-woo say about withdrawing President Lee Jae Myung’s indictments?

Park Chul-woo said the prosecution had not considered withdrawing indictments in cases involving Lee. He also said he had not offered an opinion or held discussions with the Supreme Prosecutors Office or the Justice Ministry about a possible withdrawal.

Why are President Lee Jae Myung’s criminal trials suspended?

Lee’s trials were suspended because sitting presidents are immune from criminal prosecution while in office, except in cases of insurrection or treason. The suspension followed his election as president in June last year.

What is the Justice Ministry fact-finding team examining in Lee Jae Myung’s cases?

A fact-finding team under the Justice Ministry’s future committee for respect for human rights is investigating matters that some people believe could provide grounds for dropping the charges against Lee. Park said he was not involved in the team’s work and did not know the details of its investigations.

Senior prosecutor says withdrawal of indictments against Lee not considered

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Summary

Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office chief Park Chul-woo said Monday that prosecutors have not considered withdrawing indictments in cases involving President Lee Jae Myung. Speaking during a parliamentary audit, Park declined to discuss how specific cases or possible arrests would be handled. He said he was not involved in a Justice Ministry fact-finding team that some believe could provide grounds for dropping the charges. Lee’s criminal trials have been suspended while he is president.

Key Facts

Park Chul-woo said he had not offered an opinion or held discussions with the Supreme Prosecutors Office or Justice Ministry about withdrawing Lee’s indictments.
Park said the Justice Ministry’s future committee for respect for human rights was examining the cases, but he had no knowledge of the details of its investigations.
Lee faced multiple criminal trials before winning the presidential election in June last year.
The trials have been suspended because sitting presidents are immune from criminal prosecution except in cases of insurrection or treason.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 19, 2026 3:49 pm KST

Park Chul-woo, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, speaks during a parliamentary audit of the prosecution at the National Assembly in Seoul on Oct. 19, 2026. (Yonhap)

A senior prosecutor said Monday that the prosecution has not considered withdrawing indictments in cases involving President Lee Jae Myung.

Park Chul-woo, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, made the remarks during a parliamentary audit of the prosecution, responding to opposition lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun's question about whether he had ever offered an opinion or held discussions with the Supreme Prosecutors Office or the justice ministry on the possible withdrawal of indictments against Lee.

"While I am aware of the great public interest in the cases (involving Lee), they are no different from any other cases," Park said.

"It is a matter of principle that I cannot comment on how specific cases will be handled. Likewise, it is not appropriate to discuss at the parliamentary audit whether an indictment or an arrest will be pursued in any given case."

Regarding the fact-finding team under the justice ministry's future committee for respect for human rights, which some say could provide grounds for dropping charges in the future, Park said he was not involved in its work and had no knowledge of the details of its investigations.

Lee faced multiple criminal trials before winning the presidential election in June last year. The trials have been suspended because sitting presidents are immune from criminal prosecution while in office, except in the case of insurrection or treason.

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