Lee defends investigation and prosecution chiefs' attendance at cabinet meetings
In short
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung defended investigation and prosecution agency chiefs' attendance at cabinet meetings on October 13, rejecting opposition criticism. He said sharing general government policy was important and that the government did not interfere in individual cases.
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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung rejected criticism of investigation and prosecution agency chiefs attending cabinet meetings, saying their attendance was consistent with the Government Organization Act and constitution. Speaking at the Blue House cabinet meeting on October 13, he said it was important for agencies to share the government's general direction and policies. He said the government did not interfere in individual cases. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 9 ]
Lee cited provisions concerning the president's and prime minister's supervision of central administrative agencies. He argued that agencies undertaking work entrusted by the public should not be excluded from sharing policy merely because their responsibilities involve investigations. He compared their functions with departments handling permits and patents affecting people's direct interests. He said directing the handling of individual cases would be inappropriate and was not something the government would do. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 9 ]
The dispute followed the October 6 cabinet meeting, attended by the heads of the serious-crime investigation agency, prosecution agency and police. The first two agencies had formally launched on October 2, Chosun Ilbo reported. Opposition politicians raised concerns about investigative independence and political neutrality. Chosun Ilbo reported that earlier practice had been for prosecution and police chiefs not to attend cabinet meetings, out of consideration for fairness and neutrality. [ 2 , 8 , 12 ]
At a parliamentary audit on October 13, government policy coordination chief Im Gi-geun (임기근) said agency chiefs could lawfully attend under cabinet meeting rules, Newsis reported. Responding to a People Power Party lawmaker's call to stop their attendance, he said the government was maintaining independence and political neutrality. He acknowledged some confusion following the new agencies' launch, but said he expected them to operate without problems by December. He said no individual investigations had been directed and pledged to remain alert to preventing that. [ 10 ]
Why it matters
Opposition politicians have argued that attendance could undermine investigative independence and political neutrality. Lee and the government policy coordination chief said the arrangements were lawful and distinguished sharing policy from directing individual investigations.
Key facts
- Lee defended the agency chiefs' cabinet attendance at an October 13 meeting at the Blue House. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 9 ]
- He said the government did not interfere in the handling of individual cases. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 9 ]
- The controversy followed agency chiefs' attendance at the October 6 cabinet meeting. [ 2 , 12 ]
- The government policy coordination chief said no individual investigations had been directed and pledged to guard against that happening. [ 10 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The government's defense of attendance has not resolved the neutrality concerns described in the reports. Opposition politicians argued attendance could impair independence, while Lee and the policy coordination chief rejected that criticism.