The Blue House on October 22 refuted reports suggesting that President Lee Jae-myung used responses from the generative artificial intelligence (AI) Gemini as a basis for the attendance of heads of investigative agencies at Cabinet meetings, calling it a "distortion of facts." The attendance of the heads of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Prosecution Service aligns with the principles of governance that the president previously disclosed publicly.
Seong Gi-hong, the Blue House's chief of public communication, spoke with reporters at the Blue House's press center, stating that President Lee had already expressed his stance on the attendance of heads of investigative agencies during a Cabinet meeting broadcast live on October 13.
Seong explained that during that meeting, President Lee referenced his authority to direct and supervise administrative agencies under the Constitution and the Government Organization Act, emphasizing the importance of discussing national affairs while clarifying that he would not interfere in the handling of individual cases.
He further argued that a post President Lee made the previous day on X (formerly Twitter) reflected the same position, asserting that the rationale for the attendance of investigative agency heads was not newly discovered through AI.
Regarding President Lee's phrasing of "I asked Gemini," Seong clarified that it indicated the use of AI as a tool to verify relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Government Organization Act, akin to consulting legal texts or searching online for related regulations.
Seong also countered reports interpreting the president's call for strict responses to serious crimes as an indication of investigative direction. He argued that linking President Lee's request for impartial investigations into power-related corruption and financial crimes to specific case directives is a distortion of his words.
"Investigative direction is meant to be done individually and specifically," Seong stated, asserting that connecting the mere attendance at Cabinet meetings to interference in investigations contradicts the principles of a government based on popular sovereignty.
He added that Cabinet meetings serve as a platform for heads of government agencies to share current issues and discuss public welfare matters, noting that the newly established Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and Prosecution Service are also part of the government structure.
Seong emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring the fairness and neutrality of investigations, stating, "This principle will remain unwavering," and reiterated that specific investigations or prosecutions will not be addressed during Cabinet meetings.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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