Lee Yong-cheol says focus should be on finding truth, vows to watch special prosecutor without bias

Lee Yong-cheol, the nominee for justice minister, said Wednesday that "now is the time to focus on finding the truth, and the rest must follow the law and principles," when asked about the possible withdrawal of criminal charges against President Lee Jae Myung.

Lee made the remarks on his first day at the confirmation hearing preparation office at the Seoul Immigration and Foreign Residents Office in Songpa-gu, Seoul, in response to reporters asking whether he would be willing to exercise his prosecutorial command authority depending on the outcome of the truth-finding process on the charge withdrawal. While the justice minister cannot directly withdraw charges, the minister may direct and supervise the prosecutor general under the law.

"I do not think it is appropriate to offer views on a controversy premised on many predictions, prejudgments and speculations at a time when the truth-finding process has not even begun," Lee said.

Lee added that he was "not a member of any group advocating for the withdrawal of charges" and had "never participated as defense counsel in any case subject to the special prosecutor." "I will therefore watch the special prosecutor's truth-finding activities going forward without any prejudgment or preconception," he said.

Asked whether exercising prosecutorial command authority over related cases as a close associate of the president would constitute a conflict of interest, Lee said he did not think it appropriate for a nominee to evaluate the special prosecutor act, which is a decision made by the legislature.

In opening remarks on his first day, Lee said he had felt "an even greater sense of responsibility" after encountering the expectations and concerns of many citizens regarding his nomination over the past few days of confirmation hearing preparations. "If given the opportunity to serve as minister, I will make it my top priority to firmly establish the new criminal justice system," he said.

Lee said he would "work with the newly appointed chief of the prosecution office to quickly carry out fair personnel decisions and expand staffing, in order to stabilize the organization and boost morale among its members." He added that the prosecution office should "realize judicial justice through the fair exercise of indictment authority and establish itself as a human rights protection institution, including through the protection of victims."