Former Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok Criticizes Democratic Party's Probe as 'Violation of Separation of Powers'

Former Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok on the 12th criticized the Democratic Party's proposed National Assembly investigation into alleged fabricated indictments by political prosecutors under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, stating it violates the constitutional principle of separation of powers.

In a statement released on the 12th, Lee argued that the parliamentary probe would see the legislature take on the role of the judiciary to conduct trials, which he contends violates the constitutional principle of separation of powers. Lee pointed out that the probe attempts to overturn facts and legal principles, established through years of evidence examination and judgment in court, in a matter of just a few days. He explained that it is problematic to conclude charges were 'fabricated' and acquittals are warranted based solely on the one-sided claims of defendants who received guilty verdicts, while excluding material evidence and witnesses recognized by the courts. Furthermore, he highlighted that summoning dozens of current prosecutors as witnesses and interrogating them under the guise of political investigations exerts undue pressure on investigations and trials, thereby stifling the judicial system. Lee stated that if such a probe proceeds, there will be no prosecutors or judges willing to conduct investigations or trials concerning political power or authority in the future.

Lee proposed that if there are any responsibilities to be held, they should be directed at him, who was in charge of the prosecution's command and supervision. He served as the first Prosecutor General under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and is scheduled to appear as a witness before the parliamentary inquiry special committee on the 16th.

The National Assembly approved the plan for the National Assembly investigation with a unanimous vote of 175 in favor at a plenary session last month on the 22nd.