Lee Jeong-hyun, the acting Prosecutor General, stated on October 22 that he would not mention specific cases during Cabinet meetings.
According to Yonhap News, during a National Assembly audit by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Lee responded, "I have attended several Cabinet meetings, but I have never mentioned specific cases, nor do I intend to."
In response, Representative Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party countered, "There has not been a case in the past 25 years where a Prosecutor General attended a Cabinet meeting," adding that even without direct involvement from President Yoon Suk-yeol, the Prosecutor General would inevitably face pressure regarding case prosecutions.
Lee explained that his intention to attend Cabinet meetings is to enhance understanding of overall state affairs and to create a forum for discussion. However, he added, "I will ensure that concerns about the attendance of the Prosecutor General infringing on fairness and neutrality are communicated to the Ministry of Justice."
Last December, President Yoon directed that heads of external agencies under each ministry should also attend Cabinet meetings. As a result, the acting Prosecutor General and the acting Commissioner of the National Police Agency began to participate.
On October 20, the Cabinet meeting included Lee Jeong-hyun, along with Kim Ji-yong, the inaugural head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, and Kim Jong-cheol, the acting Commissioner of the National Police Agency.
Meanwhile, on October 22, President Yoon stated, "The President's command and supervision over state affairs is both a right and a responsibility," emphasizing that neglecting oversight of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency would violate the Constitution and the Government Organization Act, constituting grounds for impeachment and criminal liability for dereliction of duty. This is interpreted as a reaffirmation of President Yoon's commitment to the attendance of the Prosecutor General at Cabinet meetings.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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