President reaffirms commitment to overhaul power of prosecutors

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Thursday. Newsis

President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed on Thursday his commitment to sweeping prosecutorial reforms, underscoring the need to separate the powers of investigation and indictment within the justice system.

At a press conference marking his first month in office, Lee described the initiative as “a very important and practical task,” adding that his administration and party would press ahead to see it through.

“There seems to be no disagreement that the same entity should not hold both investigative and indictment powers,” Lee said at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul.

Lee criticized what he described as past practices in which prosecutors were allegedly pressured to build cases around predetermined indictments, saying, “Investigating for the sake of indictment, or manipulating cases to suit indictments, must not happen.”

He added, “Unfortunately, bad examples of such practices have been observed, even during the period of political debate over that issue. There was significant opposition to separating investigative and prosecutorial powers during the former Moon Jae-in administration. Now, however, there doesn’t seem to be much opposition. The need for reforms has only grown ― it’s a case of reaping what was sown.”

Asked about the timeline for completing the reform, he referenced calls from leaders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea to finish the planning process before the Chuseok holiday, scheduled to begin on Oct. 3.

“It may be possible to establish the framework for the system by then,” Lee said. “But it will take considerable time for the system to take root … The basics would be prepared by then. It ultimately depends on the National Assembly’s decision.”

Earlier this week, the president named Rep. Jung Sung-ho as his first justice minister and appointed Bong Wook, a former elite prosecutor, as his senior secretary for civil affairs — a post that traditionally wields considerable influence over the prosecution. Both men are viewed as moderates, prompting questions about why Lee tapped them to lead a reform effort widely seen as contentious.

“The government’s role is to minimize any resulting conflicts or side effects of the National Assembly’s reform efforts,” Lee said. “To ensure the process proceeds smoothly and swiftly, the presidential office came to a conclusion that it would be better to appoint people who understand the prosecution well.”

Lee also addressed the ongoing strike by trainee doctors, saying sincere talks between them and the government would lead to a resolution.

“If we restore trust, engage in sufficient dialogue and make appropriate compromises where necessary, I believe we can resolve these issues,” he said.

His emphasis on fostering dialogue and seeking compromise signals a shift toward a more conciliatory approach from the more uncompromising stance maintained by previous President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faced a virulent backlash from doctors over the decision to increase the quota of medical school admissions.

“The previous administration’s excessive and unreasonable policies, as well as the way they acted without any agreement from the medical community, caused the problem and seriously damaged the health care system,” he said. “We should engage in dialogue, which we need as soon as possible, and I think honest discussions are necessary in this matter as well.”

When asked about his determination to push for a sweeping anti-discrimination bill, Lee said it is not his priority.

“(Enacting it) is certainly one of the important tasks facing our society, but there are matters of priority and urgency. My position is that we should address the most pressing and urgent issues first,” he said. “For issues that involve many sources of conflict like this one, we need social debate … Since we (the administration) are an executive branch, it is better for the National Assembly to handle such issues.”