[2025 Audit] Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Report to Presidential Office on Lee Jinsook Arrest Warrant

People Power Party: "Handing Over Investigative Authority to the Presidential Office"
Democratic Party: "A Duty Specified in the Regulations"

The ruling and opposition parties exchanged heated arguments over the police's report to the presidential office regarding the application for an arrest warrant for former Korea Communications Commission Chairwoman Lee Jinsook.

At the comprehensive audit of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on the 30th, Yu Jaeseong, Acting Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, responded to a question from Joo Ho-young, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, who asked whether the police had reported the application for Lee's arrest warrant directly to the presidential office or through the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Yu replied, "I understand that a written report was made directly to the president." Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung stated that he had not received any related report.

Yonhap News Agency

The People Power Party criticized the police for directly reporting an individual investigation matter to the presidential office, calling it a clear violation of investigative independence. Assemblyman Joo stated, "According to the recently passed Government Organization Act, does this mean that from now on, all matters necessary for investigations will be reported to the presidential office?" He added, "This is not investigative independence, but rather handing over the independence from the prosecution to the presidential office."

On the other hand, Han Byungdo, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, argued, "The National Police Agency reports to the presidential office when significant incidents occur," adding, "This is stipulated as part of the presidential secretariat's operations."

In response, Minister Yoon stated, "The progress of individual investigations is not even part of the police chief's duties," and added, "I believe that the National Investigation Headquarters may report if deemed necessary."

During the afternoon session, Acting Commissioner General Yu clarified, "After checking with the responsible director about the situation at the time, I confirmed that the presidential office was notified (not reported) via the police's internal email system," and emphasized that there had been no phone reports or calls.

To a question from Assemblyman Yoon Kunyoung of the Democratic Party, who asked, "Since the appointment of minister-level officials is the president's prerogative, isn't it natural to notify the presidential office?" Yu replied, "It was notified because it was a major public safety issue."