Acting Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok: "We Cannot Just Blame the Law"

Lee "Prosecutors Will Faithfully Fulfill Role of 'Protecting Citizens' Basic Rights' Until New Chief Prosecutor Takes Office"
Leading Prosecution Before New Chief's Inauguration on 'Current Investigations and Responding to the Criminal Procedure Act Reform'

Acting Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok, the newly appointed Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, is answering questions from the press upon arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The prosecution has transitioned to a deputy prosecutor general system under Lee Won-seok in preparation for the next Prosecutor General appointment, investigations, and the so-called ‘Geomsu Wanbak’ (complete prosecution reform). Lee, the new Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, will lead the appointment of the Prosecutor General, subsequent personnel changes, investigations, and the prosecution's response to the Geomsu Wanbak bill for the time being.

Deputy Prosecutor General Lee is proficient not only in investigations but also in planning tasks, enabling him to swiftly handle various pending issues and fill the gap left by the absence of a Prosecutor General.

On the morning of the 23rd, during his first commute to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Deputy Prosecutor General Lee stated, "There can be no special secret to the work done by the prosecution," adding, "The law has changed again, creating a difficult environment, but we cannot just blame the law."

He continued, "Only by focusing solely on the people and serving them with sincerity in every single case through investigation, prosecution, and trial can we earn the trust and confidence of the public," emphasizing, "As the acting Prosecutor General, I will do my utmost to ensure that the prosecution faithfully fulfills its role in protecting the lives, safety, property, and fundamental rights of the people without any gaps until the new Prosecutor General assumes office."

With Deputy Prosecutor General Lee fully engaged in his duties, it is expected that the prosecution will accelerate investigations into major cases currently under its control. The prosecution is currently investigating ▲ allegations of corruption in the Daejang-dong development project ▲ the Ministry of Industry blacklist allegations ▲ the Lee Jae-myung lawyer fee payment allegations ▲ and suspicions related to the Wolseong nuclear power plant.

In preparation for the Geomsu Wanbak bill, which will take effect in four months, Deputy Prosecutor General Lee must also establish a concrete operational manual to be distributed to frontline offices. Since it will take about a month to appoint the new Prosecutor General, laying the foundational groundwork now will help minimize confusion.

Additionally, preparing to file a constitutional dispute petition against the Geomsu Wanbak bill is also Deputy Prosecutor General Lee’s responsibility. The Constitutional Court will hold a public hearing on July 12 regarding the constitutional dispute petition filed by the People Power Party in response to the Democratic Party’s forceful passage of the Geomsu Wanbak legislation.

The prosecution, which is intensifying preparations for the constitutional dispute petition, plans to form a task force (TF) soon after consultations with the Ministry of Justice and submit the petition to the Constitutional Court. If the case is accepted by the court before the hearing date, there is a high possibility that it will be consolidated with other cases. If consolidated, the prosecution is also expected to attend the hearing.