"Politicians Driving the Judiciary into Political Strife... Unjustifiable"
Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok expressed his stance on the 16th regarding the decision led by the Democratic Party of Korea's Legislation and Judiciary Committee members to adopt him as a witness for the 'Petition to Propose the Impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol' hearing, stating that it is "politics dragging the judiciary into political strife" and called it an "improper act."
When asked about his position on attending the hearing, Prosecutor General Lee replied, "I will carefully consider what is right and just."
On the afternoon of the 16th, Lee Won-seok, Prosecutor General, is answering questions regarding the adoption of witnesses for the hearing on the petition requesting the initiation of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol at the entrance of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building. Photo by JTBC News screen capture
On the 16th, Prosecutor General Lee responded to reporters waiting at the entrance of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building on his way home.
When asked about the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's decision to adopt him as a witness for President Yoon's hearing, he said, "Bringing the Prosecutor General, who is responsible for the judiciary, into an unprecedented political issue called the presidential impeachment hearing is politics dragging the judiciary into political strife," adding, "I believe the public is well aware that such conduct is improper, and I think history will judge this."
When asked, "So can we assume you will not attend President Yoon's impeachment hearing?" he said, "I will carefully consider what is right and just."
On the same day, Prosecutor General Lee was also bombarded with questions regarding the investigation into allegations of luxury handbag acceptance by First Lady Kim Geon-hee and the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case.
Regarding the necessity of summoning First Lady Kim for questioning, he said, "The Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation team is conducting a thorough investigation, and I have been informed that they will follow procedures based on principles without any other considerations, and I trust that they will maintain proper standards."
When asked about the timing of First Lady Kim's summons, Prosecutor General Lee said, "The investigation team is conducting a thorough investigation on this matter, and they will decide on the schedule and report separately, I believe."
Regarding whether he personally sent an official letter to the Presidential Office requesting the submission of the problematic handbag, he said, "The Prosecutor General does not get involved in such detailed aspects of the investigation," adding, "the investigation team has autonomy in conducting the investigation, and as I have repeatedly stated, they will investigate and handle the case based on principles without any other considerations. I am confident about that."
When asked if the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation allegations involving First Lady Kim would also be investigated together, he said, "As you know, I have been excluded from the authority to direct the investigation in that matter, so I will not comment separately," adding, "Even if I do not directly command it, the Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation team will do their best to investigate and handle both cases according to principles and standards. I believe that."
It is known that Prosecutor General Lee recently conveyed to those around him his desire to personally defend the four prosecutors who were recently impeached after his retirement. When asked about the intention behind this, he said, "The impeachment of the four prosecutors is no different from the impeachment of the Prosecutor General. I also consider it an impeachment of the entire prosecution," adding, "Although it is inappropriate to speak about my post-retirement plans now, I want to do my best to ensure that a clear conclusion is reached about what is right and wrong, regardless of when or where I am. I also want to convey this intention to the junior prosecutors who are in a difficult situation to give them courage."
The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee passed a motion solely by the opposition party on the same day to adopt Prosecutor General Lee and Presidential Office Chief Secretary Jeong Jin-seok as witnesses for the impeachment petition hearing of President Yoon, scheduled for the 26th.
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