Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won denies intent to withdraw indictments against President Lee Jae-myung
Quick Look
- Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won stated he has no intention to order the withdrawal of indictments against President Lee Jae-myung, explaining that the justice minister lacks direct authority over prosecutorial decisions.
- Kim, a ruling Democratic Party lawmaker, faced criticism from the opposition People Power Party for his involvement in a group advocating for dropping Lee's criminal indictments, which he said aimed to convey public concerns about allegedly illegal investigations.
- Lee's trials, related to false statements, corruption, embezzlement, and subornation of perjury, have been postponed due to presidential immunity.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Lee Jae-myung faced multiple criminal trials before his presidential election in June last year, including charges of making false statements ahead of the 2022 presidential election, corruption related to a development project during his time as Seongnam mayor, embezzlement of provincial funds during his time as Gyeonggi governor, and subornation of perjury. The trials have been postponed due to presidential immunity, except in cases of insurrection or treason.
SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won on Thursday denied any intention to order the withdrawal of indictments against President Lee Jae Myung if he takes office, saying the position has no direct authority over such matters.
Kim, a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), has faced criticism from the main opposition People Power Party over his involvement in a group of DP lawmakers calling for dropping Lee's criminal indictments.
"The justice minister has no direct authority and I have no intent to issue orders through the prosecutor general," Kim told reporters when asked about the issue. "Prosecutors have the authority over maintaining indictments in individual cases, so I will respect that."
He explained his involvement in the group was intended to convey the public's stance to correct wrongs in cases brought by the state through "illegal" investigations.
Kim has called for cancelling Lee's indictments, claiming they were brought by politically motivated prosecutors.
Lee had faced multiple criminal trials before his presidential election in June last year. The trials have been postponed as sitting presidents are exempt from criminal prosecution except in the case of insurrection or treason.
The cases are related to charges of making false statements ahead of the 2022 presidential election, corruption related to a development project undertaken during his time as Seongnam mayor, embezzlement of provincial funds during his time as Gyeonggi governor and subornation of perjury.
What to Watch
AI outlook โ possibilities, not facts
Lee Jae-myung's criminal trials will resume after his presidential term ends, unless new legal developments occur.
Likely ยท Within months
Open Questions
- Will the Democratic Party continue to advocate for dropping Lee Jae-myung's indictments?
- How will the Justice Minister nominee's confirmation process proceed amid opposition criticism?
- What is the timeline for when Lee Jae-myung's trials might resume after his presidential term?
