President Lee: "Thorough Review of Supplementary Investigative Authority... You Can't Get Rid of the Jangdok Just Because You Dislike Maggots"

On September 11, President Lee Jaemyung commented on the follow-up legislation regarding the separation of investigative and prosecutorial powers, including the supplementary investigative authority of the prosecution, stating, "Just because you dislike maggots, does it make sense to get rid of the entire jangdok (fermentation jar)?"

Yonhap News Agency

During a press conference marking his 100th day in office at the Blue House State Guest House that day, President Lee further explained, "My belief is that we should do everything possible to prevent maggots from appearing, not simply get rid of the jangdok," expressing his stance on the matter.

President Lee noted that since the political decision has already been made to separate investigative and prosecutorial powers and to establish the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, it is now crucial to ensure, in more concrete terms, that investigations do not become inadequate in the future.

He stated, "While falsely accusing innocent people is certainly wrong, it is also problematic to allow those who have committed crimes to go unpunished and act with impunity. To resolve both issues simultaneously, we need a very thorough system. Let us set aside emotions and review this in a logical, meticulous, and professional manner."

President Lee proposed that the review process be led by the government. He said, "As we listen to the opinions of experts, we should also consider the perspectives of both the ruling and opposition parties, the victims, and the prosecution, and resolve issues through debate. We must discover the truth, ensure that those who commit crimes are punished, and prevent innocent people from being wrongfully punished. By finding the optimal solution to address this issue swiftly, we can establish the necessary systems and mechanisms."

He added, "In fact, even one year is a short time, but in any case, we must achieve this within a year."