Shin Pyung: "President Lee Is Doing Well... A Pragmatic Reformist Path Against Vested Interests, Not Left or Right"

Shin Pyung, Political Mentor to Yoon, Assesses President Lee
"Expectations for Law School Remarks... Primary Vested Interests Must Be Reformed"
"Moderates Appointed for Prosecution Reform through Justice and Civil Affairs Personnel"

Shin Pyung, an attorney known as a political mentor to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, has offered a positive assessment of President Lee Jae Myung, who has now been in office for one month. In an interview with YTN Radio's "Shin Yul's News Frontline" on the 1st, Shin stated, "In the past, I had a special relationship with President Lee," adding, "As I understand him, President Lee is neither left nor right, but rather follows a pragmatic reformist path aimed at challenging vested interests."

President Lee Jae Myung is leaving the main building after delivering the supplementary budget address at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 26th of last month. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Shin went on to say, "When President Lee, then mayor of Seongnam, ran for president, I had hopes that he could accomplish great things for our society. After the Moon Jae In administration began, I visited his mayoral office once. I told him, 'Mayor Lee, the administration has changed, but nothing in our society has really changed.' He replied, 'People just take turns dividing up the benefits, and what they do contributes little to society as a whole.' Hearing this, I was deeply impressed by President Lee's strong anti-establishment stance."

Shin, a former law school professor, expressed particular anticipation regarding President Lee's remarks about law schools. He said, "President Lee suggested that it would be desirable to provide opportunities to qualify as legal professionals even without graduating from law school. This is not just a casual remark. A primary vested interest group has formed around law schools, and this has undermined social fairness and put the entire field of Korean jurisprudence at risk of collapse. This is extremely significant," he asserted.

He added, "President Lee's courageous statement that he should seek opportunities to address the deepening problems is exactly the kind of stance he has always taken. I expect this will serve as a catalyst for change."

Shim Woojung Prosecutor General. Photo by Yoon Dongju

Regarding Prosecutor General Shim Woojung, who announced his resignation that day, Shin said, "With a new administration in place, it is appropriate for the prosecutor general and deputy prosecutor general to resign. Prosecutor General Shim has not acted wisely as a public official up to now. It is only natural that he step down." When asked by the host what he meant by "not acting wisely," Shin responded, "Former President Yoon was impeached under a rebellion frame, but most legal scholars believe this does not amount to treason. Prosecutor General Shim indicted him for treason without even consulting academic opinion, and I believe this was a hasty and imprudent action."

He continued, "From the perspective of the court of history, it would be difficult to see this as treason. Above all, the requirements for the crime of treason are not met. Applying the law on treason in this case is an excessive interpretation," he added.

Regarding President Lee's prosecution reform, Shin said, "Jung Sung Ho, who has been nominated as Minister of Justice, and Bong Wook, who has been appointed as Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs, are both quite moderate and rational individuals. By appointing moderates in the face of conflict between hardliners and moderates, President Lee has shown a clear stance. I believe the moderates will take the lead going forward."