New Prosecutor General Wonseok Lee: "No Exceptions or Sanctuaries in Law Enforcement"... Cites Han Feizi's Principle of Impartial Law

Lee Wonseok, the newly appointed Prosecutor General, is attending the inauguration ceremony held at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 16th. Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

[Asia Economy, Legal Affairs Correspondent Choi Seokjin] Newly appointed Prosecutor General Wonseok Lee once again expressed his strong commitment to the "unrestricted execution of prosecutorial authority" in his inaugural address on September 16.

At the inauguration ceremony for the 45th Prosecutor General, held that afternoon in the main conference room on the 15th floor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-dong, Seoul, Lee referenced a passage from Han Feizi: "The law does not flatter the noble, and the plumb line does not bend for the crooked." He emphasized, "There can be no exceptions, privileges, or sanctuaries in law enforcement, and prosecutorial authority must be exercised solely based on evidence and legal principles."

Lee had previously cited the same passage at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's monthly executive meeting in May, when he was serving as acting Prosecutor General, urging fairness and political neutrality in the exercise of prosecutorial authority.

At the beginning of his address, he stated, "I feel a heavy sense of responsibility rather than honor at being entrusted with the difficult position of Prosecutor General, given my many shortcomings. There is much to be done and a long way to go, but I am encouraged by the support of all members of the prosecution as we set sail together."

He referenced Article 10 of the Constitution, which stipulates human dignity and the right to pursue happiness, and stressed, "By transcending the 'state of nature,' described as a 'war of all against all,' the prosecution's very 'raison d'etre' and the 'essence of our work' is to protect the basic rights of the people-such as life, physical safety, security, and property-and thereby sustain and develop our community."

Lee stated, "Ultimately, we must fulfill our duty to exercise the 'prosecutorial authority entrusted to us by the people' for the people and in the right manner." He called for the prosecution's investigative capabilities to be focused on: ▲ crimes that harm people's livelihoods, such as voice phishing, rental deposit fraud, and fund fraud; ▲ serious crimes targeting socially vulnerable groups, including children, persons with disabilities, and women, such as digital sex crimes, sexual violence, stalking, and domestic violence; ▲ financial and securities crimes that disrupt a fair market economy; and ▲ structural corruption that undermines national finances and wastes the budget.

He emphasized, "We must actively support victims in restoring their daily lives and thoroughly confiscate criminal proceeds to establish the principle that 'crime does not pay.' However, we must also maintain procedural justice and the virtue of restraint throughout all stages of investigation and trial to ensure that citizens' rights are not violated."

Lee referenced Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations," which views the pursuit of "self-interest" as an essential human characteristic, and noted, "For members of the prosecution, our jobs and work are a 'hard-earned livelihood' that supports ourselves and our families. However, as public officials, the 'work' we do in pursuit of 'self-interest' is precisely aligned with the 'public interest' of protecting the basic rights of the people, and therein lies our sense of fulfillment."

He continued, "Our work is directly the work of the people. The value of public service lies there, and that is also why public office is honorable."

He expressed his intention to reorganize the prosecution, which had been shaken during the previous administration's "prosecution reform" efforts, and also mentioned the need to redefine relationships with other investigative agencies, such as the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.

Lee stated, "For years, there has been ongoing controversy over the prosecution system, with the standards of the prosecution repeatedly wavering, undermining the pride and honor of its members. In the process, the response to crime and corruption has been neglected, creating a vicious cycle that ultimately harms the public."

He added, "Moreover, we must also redefine our relationships with other criminal justice agencies, with whom even close cooperation is not enough, to restore proper order."

Lee said, "We cannot simply blame our circumstances and conditions. I believe that what matters more than visible systems or authority is our determination and will to serve the people."

In closing, he called for "humility," "communication," and the restoration of public trust.

Lee emphasized, "In our work, let us strive to be humble prosecutors who, at a minimum, act in accordance with the law, then with reason and common sense, and finally, with an understanding of human compassion. Let us all work together to foster a culture where colleagues listen to one another, respect and care for each other, and promote gender equality."

He stated, "Especially in difficult times, I believe that returning to the basics and our original intentions, focusing solely on the people, and doing our utmost with sincerity is the only way to earn the public's trust. We must remember that without public trust, we cannot fulfill our roles even for a moment, and we must conduct ourselves so as not to be ashamed, even when alone in a dark room."

Lee concluded, "As Prosecutor General, I will be a strong pillar and shield to ensure that the ideals of justice and fairness held by members of the prosecution are realized. If we set the fundamentals right, the path will open. Let us all work together to build a prosecution that serves the people."

New Prosecutor General Wonseok Lee paid tribute at the Memorial Tower at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 16th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Meanwhile, earlier that day, after receiving his letter of appointment from President Yoon Suk-yeol, Lee visited the Memorial Tower at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, to pay tribute before attending the inauguration ceremony.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.