Prosecutor General: "False Claims Shake Judicial System... Must Focus Only on the People"

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok told the newly appointed prosecutors, "You must not be swept away by reality but focus solely on the people and fulfill the duties prosecutors must perform." On the afternoon of the 1st, Lee made this request at the registration ceremony for 16 new prosecutors held at the Seoul Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok Photo by Yonhap News

Lee stated, "The reality is that beyond reasonable and healthy criticism of prosecutorial work, baseless false claims and irresponsible criticisms are being poured out, shaking the judicial system itself," and emphasized, "If we uphold principles, follow due legal procedures, and reveal the truth solely based on evidence and legal reasoning, then along with judicial legitimacy, we will naturally gain historical evaluation and the trust of the people." This is interpreted as a remark related to opposition parties pointing out fairness in prosecutorial investigations into cases such as the money envelope scandal at the party convention and the Ssangbangwool Group’s remittance to North Korea involving Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Furthermore, Lee said, "The work of a prosecutor demands judgment imbued with affection and insight into humanity, diagnosing social conflicts and maladies, and the capability to impose appropriate punishments, which is arduous," adding, "As the top experts in criminal justice, prosecutors must continuously hone their skills to ensure there are no gaps in the exercise of the state's punitive authority." He then added, "Remember that the performance of a prosecutor’s duties must follow only the law and principles, not personal values or interests, and the moment this is betrayed, the people will immediately withdraw their trust in the prosecution."

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