Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok: "Court Recognizes Crime Evidence... Guarantees Right to Defense in Position as Party Leader"

Lee Jae-myung 'Arrest Warrant Dismissed'... Prosecutor General "Dismissal Basis, Significant Opinion Gap Between Court and Prosecution"

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok commented on the dismissal of the arrest warrant for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stating, "(The court) acknowledged the evidence proving the crime, but seemed to focus on guaranteeing the right to defense due to his position as party leader."

On the morning of the 27th, when the arrest warrant for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was dismissed, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok answered questions from reporters as he arrived at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 27th, Prosecutor General Lee made these remarks to reporters while arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. He said, "There appears to be a significant difference in opinion between the prosecution and the court regarding the court's decision on the warrant trial and its grounds," adding, "The prosecution intends to continue to faithfully conduct investigations, trials, and judicial procedures solely based on evidence and legal principles, as it has done so far."

Regarding concerns that the dismissal of the arrest warrant for Lee might weaken the momentum of the investigation, he emphasized, "The warrant trial is not the main trial that determines guilt or innocence," and explained, "It is a procedure prior to the main trial that judges whether detention is necessary. The trial has not even started yet. The prosecution will thoroughly review the reasons for the warrant dismissal and additionally supplement the investigation on the criminal charges to ensure appropriate punishment corresponding to the crime."

Addressing opposition party claims that the prosecution's investigation of Lee is a 'targeted investigation,' he stated, "The ongoing investigation into Lee began during the previous administration," and added, "The investigation has been ongoing even before my term as Prosecutor General. For example, the Baekhyeon-dong preferential treatment corruption case was referred for investigation by the Board of Audit and Inspection during the previous government after determining that there was evidence of criminal charges."

He further said, "The judiciary must not be politicized, nor can it be politicized or become politicized," and added, "It is most desirable that the parties involved assert their rights within the judicial procedures established in advance by our Constitution and laws, and that the institutions involved in judicial procedures also faithfully fulfill their duties within the established judicial framework, while the public calmly observes."

Prosecutor General Lee also mentioned that he would consult with the investigation team regarding the reapplication for Lee's arrest warrant.

Judge Yoo Chang-hoon, head of the warrant division at the Seoul Central District Court, conducted a nine-hour warrant hearing for Lee, who was charged with violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery) and other charges. After the hearing, he ruled to dismiss the arrest warrant, stating, "Considering the necessity of guaranteeing the suspect's (Lee Jae-myung's) right to defense and the degree of concern over evidence destruction, it is difficult to find grounds and necessity for detention to the extent that the principle of non-detention should be excluded."