President Lee Jae-myung proposed 'reducing the prosecution' and 'strengthening the CIO and police' as part of his presidential campaign pledges. In particular, regarding the prosecution, he stated that he would separate it into the prosecution office, the public prosecution office, and the investigation office. This means dividing the prosecution, which currently has the authority to oversee investigations, prosecutions, and participate in criminal trials, into three parts. In response, a legal expert noted, 'If this pledge is realized, the already reduced prosecution will shrink even more.'
◇ President Lee's pledge: 'reducing the prosecution' and 'strengthening the CIO and police'
President Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign manifesto includes a section stating, 'I will complete prosecution reform.' Specific measures proposed include ▲ separating investigation and prosecution, ensuring expertise in investigative agencies ▲ materializing judicial controls over the abuse of prosecutorial power ▲ selecting prosecutors only from experienced legal professionals ▲ implementing a disciplinary dismissal system for prosecutors.
Additionally, President Lee appeared on a YouTube broadcast in April and said, 'I intend to significantly strengthen the CIO.' He added, 'We need to increase CIO (prosecutors) and enhance the independence of the National Investigative Agency to strengthen its capabilities.'
He continued, 'Then, we must thoroughly separate the prosecution into the prosecution office, public prosecution office, and investigation office to ensure checks and balances and allow mutual checks among investigative agencies.'
In this regard, a legal expert said, 'President Lee is currently undergoing five trials with 12 charges, many of which were investigated and prosecuted by the prosecution during the previous administration,' adding, 'From President Lee's perspective, it is inevitable to have a negative view of the prosecution.'
Another legal expert, who is a former prosecutor, stated, 'Previously, the impeachment of prosecutors by the Democratic Party was all dismissed by the Constitutional Court, but if measures to control prosecutorial power abuse and disciplinary dismissals of prosecutors are implemented as President Lee pledged, the checks on the prosecution will be significantly strengthened.'
Another legal professional remarked, 'Is President Lee trying to empower the CIO and the National Investigative Agency, actively using these two institutions to supposedly carry out 'cleansing of old evils'?'
◇ Prosecution is investigating various allegations against the previous administration
Recently, the prosecution has been seen hastening investigations into various allegations that occurred during the previous administration. These include ▲ a renewed investigation by the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office into First Lady Kim Keon-hee's involvement with Deutsch Motors ▲ investigations by the Southern District Prosecutors' Office into allegations involving Geun-jin, the Unification Church, and requests made by Kim Keon-hee ▲ investigations by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office into allegations of manipulation of public opinion by Myung Tae-kyun and interference in candidate nominations. These are cases that have been criticized for not being properly addressed during the previous administration.
A legal expert stated, 'The prosecution might want to demonstrate its value to the new government through investigations into the corruption of the previous administration.'