Lee urges crime agency to probe all parties

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Oct. 6 called on the newly established Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to take a tough and impartial approach to crimes involving the country’s powerful elite. “I want you to thoroughly and rigorously investigate criminal acts by so-called social elites, including the powerful, highly educated and wealthy, without the slightest hesitation, regardless of whether they are on our side or the other side,” Lee said.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee called for thorough investigations into cases that have raised public suspicion, saying the government must establish the facts and ensure that no one is unfairly harmed or given an improper advantage. He urged officials to do everything possible to uphold a fair and orderly society. The meeting was attended for the first time by Jeon Jong-min, the acting head and deputy chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, and Lee Jung-hyun, the acting head of the Prosecution Agency. The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency is responsible for investigating six categories of serious crime: corruption, economic crimes, defense industry crimes, drug offenses, insurrection and foreign exchange-related crimes, as well as cybercrime and the offense of distorting the law.

Lee also criticized the dismantled prosecution service, saying it had wielded sweeping powers over investigations, prosecutions, criminal proceedings and the enforcement of sentences. “At some point, the state began abusing its power to pin crimes on individuals who had not committed them,” he said. That, Lee said, eventually led to the current system, which separates investigative and prosecutorial functions and places them under separate agencies. He called the change “a historic decision by the people.”

Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-joong expressed regret that the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency had begun operations without a permanent chief. Speaking at a parliamentary audit of his ministry and other agencies, Yoon said, “We did everything we could, but I am deeply sorry that the agency was unable to launch with its chief in place.”


Hoon Sang Park tigermask@donga.com