‘Investigation of Lee Jae-yong’ Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Bok-hyun's First Resignation in Protest of the Complete Prosecution Reform... "President, Please Clarify Your Position on the Reform"

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee: "Police are like the Army skilled in ground combat... Prosecution is like the Air Force flying F-16s, functions differ"
Investigating state corruption, Samsung merger suspicions... Leading 'specialist' in prosecution

Seoul Seocho-dong Supreme Prosecutors' Office. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The Democratic Party of Korea, after holding a party meeting, has reached a consensus to pass the ‘Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights (Geomsu Wanbak)’ bill within this month. Meanwhile, Lee Bok-hyun, chief prosecutor of the Criminal Division 2 at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (age 50, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 32), who was dispatched to the special prosecution team investigating the state affairs manipulation scandal and handled the bribery charges against Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong related to the merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries involving former President Park Geun-hye, has resigned and left the prosecution.

On the morning of the 13th, Chief Prosecutor Lee posted a message titled ‘Resignation Greeting’ on the internal prosecution bulletin board, stating, "I would like to know the President’s stance on the Geomsu Wanbak policy."

Lee Bok-hyun, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office.

He continued, "It is unreasonable that the President, as the head of a presidential system country, has no position on a policy attempt that could completely change the judicial system of a nation," and added, "I hope the newly elected President will create a forum to sincerely consider institutional improvements from the perspective of the opposing side."

He also said, "The current controversy over prosecutorial reform ultimately stems from distrust of the prosecution, and the public’s distrust of the prosecution is due to the original sin of the prosecution having adjudicated political disputes that should have been resolved by the political sphere through judicial means over a long period," and criticized, "Although people disparage the way the sword is used, when they themselves hold the sword, they have wielded it as a weapon of personnel authority against the prosecution."

He then questioned, "If there were prosecutors who played wrong roles in that process, they deserve criticism, but the Geomsu Wanbak cannot eliminate such wrongful practices of investigative agencies," and asked, "Is there a blocking device to prevent the police from engaging in political investigations?"

Chief Prosecutor Lee expressed concern that if the prosecution’s investigative rights disappear, financial crimes and crimes by the powerful will run rampant. He said, "If the prosecution’s investigative rights are removed, investigations into financial and securities market disturbances, market disorderly conduct by large corporations, and high-level power elites’ involvement in vested interests will inevitably disappear for the time being," and added, "I believe no one desires that."

He cited cases such as the Hyundai Motor slush fund case, the Lone Star case, the Hanwha Group slush fund case, and the Samsung Group illegal succession case, comparing investigations by the prosecution and the police.

Chief Prosecutor Lee said, "It cannot be denied that the police are composed of capable talents," but explained, "However, their specialties differ. If the police are like the army and marines skilled in ground warfare, the prosecution is like the air force flying F-16s."

He continued, "I doubt anyone would think of dismissing highly trained air force pilots, who have been cultivated at great expense for decades, because they are unreliable, and instead train infantry specialized in ground combat to protect the country," emphasizing, "If Geomsu Wanbak is realized, the likelihood of investigative agencies winning investigations against large corporate groups and financial powers over a long period will be extremely low."

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