Lee Jae-myung: "I hope some parts of the Judicial Examination are revived... I do not agree with the abolition of the Administrative Examination"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is appealing for support from citizens at the ginseng permanent market in Jinan-gun, Jeonbuk on the 5th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated that while maintaining the law school system, he hopes that the judicial examination will also be partially reinstated.

On the 5th, during a YouTube live broadcast while visiting the Jeonbuk region, Lee said, "I think we should keep the law school system as it is, but also hold some judicial exams to give opportunities to those who have the ability to become lawyers even if they did not finish middle or high school."

When a viewer requested not to abolish the open recruitment exam for Grade 5 public officials, Lee responded, "There is a problem with selecting all government positions, especially high-ranking ones, through exams," but added, "However, completely abolishing the administrative exam is similar to abolishing the old civil service exam in the past. I do not agree that this is desirable."

Lee has previously expressed his position to preserve the judicial examination several times. In July 2015, while serving as mayor of Seongnam, he mentioned on Facebook about his life, saying, "It is clearly thanks to the judicial examination that a boy laborer from a poor background with disabilities could achieve his current status and role."

He also emphasized, "To guarantee opportunities for social mobility to everyone, even if only a little, and especially to give hope to the sons and daughters of poor commoners, it is appropriate to preserve the judicial examination that allows becoming a legal professional regardless of academic background."

At a press conference for his autobiography 'Lee Jae-myung's Crooked Arm' held in February 2017, Lee said, "From the perspective of providing new opportunities for social mobility, systems like the judicial examination, administrative exam, and the now-defunct foreign service exam are absolutely necessary."

He particularly urged Moon Jae-in, then the former leader of the Democratic Party, who had stated that reinstating the judicial exam was difficult, saying, "I request you to abandon past memories and change your stance to preserve the judicial examination in order to give opportunities to young people as the public desires."