Lee Jeong-hyeon, the new acting Prosecutor General and Deputy Chief of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, stated on September 23 that the decision on whether to dismiss charges related to President Lee Jae-myung's criminal case will depend on the results of an ongoing investigation. He did not outline any specific plans for moving forward.
During his first day at work at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Lee responded to questions from reporters about the possibility of dismissing charges against the president, saying, "The investigation team is currently conducting an inquiry, so we need to look at the results."
In response to criticism regarding the investigation into the Ssangbangwool North Korean remittance case, he described his comments as reflecting his fundamental philosophy on awareness investigations. He noted, "All past prosecutors general and ministers have emphasized restrained investigations that precisely target the issues at hand. In that regard, I believe there may have been aspects that did not meet those standards," he said.
Lee previously criticized the investigation methods related to the so-called 'salmon drinking party testimony coercion allegations' during a National Assembly hearing in April. However, former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young was found guilty of perjury regarding those allegations in a first trial in June, receiving a four-month prison sentence, with an appeal currently underway.
Lee also expressed his commitment to ensuring the successful establishment of the Public Prosecution Office, which is set to launch on October 2, and to protecting human rights. He remarked, "I feel a heavy responsibility taking on this important role during a challenging time, and I will do my utmost to ensure that the Public Prosecution Office becomes an institution that advocates for and protects human rights."
Regarding the issue of prosecutor staffing, he noted, "After reviewing the work at the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office and district prosecutors' offices, I found that there are around 600 to 700 unresolved cases, indicating a significant shortage of personnel." He stated that he would discuss this matter with the Ministry of Justice. On the relationship with the Serious Crime Investigation Agency and police, he mentioned, "The command structure has shifted to a more equal cooperative relationship," emphasizing the need to strengthen pre-cooperation through agreements.
In an email sent to all prosecutors that day, Lee expressed, "I feel as if I am standing on the edge of a precipice," and emphasized, "We are on the side of the victims of crime and the socially vulnerable, not anyone else. If we firmly uphold principles and fundamentals, we can earn the trust of the public."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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