President Lee Warns Prosecution Against "Trap of Infallibility"... Opposition Protests Alleged Pressure to Withdraw Indictments

Lee: "If a mistake is made, there should be an apology and cancellation" ... Did not specify what should be addressed

Blue House: "Responsibility for powerful institutions is a consistent principle in governance"

On June 2, President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the responsibility that comes with the exercise of authority, cautioning the prosecution not to fall into "the trap of infallibility." He suggested that even the prosecution’s use of its investigation and indictment powers must acknowledge the possibility of error, and that there must be a willingness to correct mistakes when they are confirmed. However, some in the opposition claimed that President Lee’s reference to "cancellation" was a message with his own cases in mind, specifically the possibility of withdrawing indictments against himself. The Blue House responded by stating, "The greater an institution’s authority, the greater its responsibility should be. This has always been the administration’s stance on state affairs."

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Cabinet meeting combined with the Emergency Economic Inspection meeting held at the Blue House on June 2, 2026. June 2, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News.

President Lee made these remarks after receiving a report on the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s governmental outcomes from Koo Jahyun, Acting Prosecutor General, during the 24th Cabinet Meeting combined with the 11th Emergency Economic Inspection Meeting held in the Sejong Hall of the Blue House main building that day. President Lee stated, "Anyone can make mistakes. If a mistake is made, it should be acknowledged with an apology and corrected. This applies to any institution." However, he did not specify what exactly should be apologized for or canceled.

President Lee also highlighted the issue of responsibility by referring to the prosecution’s legal and institutional nature. He described the prosecution as "a quasi-public interest institution, a quasi-judicial institution, or an organization with obligations to the public interest and objectivity," adding, "Since it wields tremendous authority, it must also bear corresponding responsibility." Given the prosecution’s significant influence in criminal justice procedures, he urged the institution to acknowledge the potential for error and to adopt an attitude of self-correction.

Acting Prosecutor General Koo, in his report, explained the prosecution’s achievements in responding to crimes that undermine public welfare, financial crimes, and cartel activities that disrupt market order. He also pledged that the prosecution would diligently participate in future discussions on the criminal justice system and fully commit to its core duties of public safety and human rights protection.

Koo Jahyun, Acting Prosecutor General, is listening to President Lee Jae-myung's remarks at the Cabinet Meeting and Emergency Economic Review held at the Blue House on June 2, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

The controversy centered on President Lee’s comment that "if a mistake is made, it should be acknowledged with an apology and corrected." After the Democratic Party of Korea introduced a special prosecutor bill in April to investigate allegations of fabricated investigations and indictments under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, the opposition has argued that this bill could lead to the withdrawal of indictments in criminal cases involving President Lee. In this context, when President Lee referred to "cancellation" in his remarks to the prosecution, the People Power Party and other critics immediately launched attacks, claiming political intent.

Song Eon-seok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, wrote on social media that President Lee’s remarks amounted to "a public threat demanding the cancellation of his own indictment." The party’s chief spokesperson, Choi Bo-yoon, also commented that Lee had "effectively pressured the prosecution to withdraw indictments," criticizing it as "a destruction of the rule of law." Han Dong-hoon, an independent candidate running in the Busan Buk-gap parliamentary by-election, argued, "This is laying the groundwork to push for the withdrawal of his own indictment after the election is over."

The Blue House drew a clear line against the opposition’s interpretation. An official explained, "President Lee was simply expressing his consistent belief that the greater an institution’s authority, the greater its responsibility should be," and added, "He intended to emphasize that the prosecution must be cautious not to fall into the trap of infallibility."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.