Kaeho Lee: "Prosecution Reform Is the Reason for the Lee Administration's Existence... The Path to a Normal State"

Government Reorganization Plan to "Abolish the Prosecutors' Office" Welcomed
"Democratic Party and Government Must Fulfill Their Promise to the People"

Lee Gaeho, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Kaeho Lee, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong in South Jeolla Province, issued a press release on September 8, stating, "The ruling party, the government, and the Presidential Office have finalized a government reorganization plan at a high-level party-government consultative meeting, which includes the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office and the establishment of the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Office." He added, "Prosecution reform is the raison d'etre of the Lee Jaemyung administration and the path for Korea to become a normal state," expressing his support for the plan.

At the Democratic Party's general assembly on September 3, Lee was the first to speak, saying, "The public firmly believes in the Democratic Party's promise to remove the Prosecutors' Office signboard before Chuseok," and emphasized, "This time, regardless of any reactionary resistance, prosecution reform must be completed early and thoroughly, based on the foundation of complete separation of investigative and prosecutorial powers."

He reiterated his stance on his Facebook page on September 5, writing, "We must convert the Prosecutors' Office into the Public Prosecution Office and complete prosecution reform. That is the way for Korea to become a normal state."

In an interview with KBC's "Yeouido Invitation" on September 4, Lee pointed out, "The public demand for reform of prosecutorial power is stronger than ever," and stressed, "We must take as a lesson the precedent during the Moon Jaein administration, when the complete separation of investigative and prosecutorial powers was rendered ineffective by a single word." He also proposed, "If both the prosecutorial and investigative functions are placed under the Ministry of Justice, it could create an even more powerful prosecution than now. Therefore, the Serious Crimes Investigation Office should be under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, not the Ministry of Justice."

Lee reiterated, "Prosecution reform is the spirit of the times and a national task," and added, "I hope this government reorganization plan will be implemented without setbacks and become institutionally established. The Democratic Party and the government must fulfill their promise to the people with full responsibility until the end."