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Silence from President Lee on ruling party’s push to drop indictments

Published: 27 Feb. 2026, 00:04

Kim Sung-tak

The author is an editorial writer at the JoongAng Ilbo.

President Lee Jae Myung may be one of the most communicative leaders in Korea’s modern history. In the past, the public could hear a president’s views mainly through formal press conferences or national addresses. Even in the era of social media, however, few presidents have expressed their positions on such a wide range of issues as quickly and frequently as Lee.

Early in his term, Lee broadcast policy discussions with Cabinet members live. During ministry briefings, he asks detailed questions and, when responses fall short, orders follow-up reports or suggests alternatives. Officials struggling to respond in real time have occasionally been seen on broadcast. Such engagement reflects both his administrative experience, built as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi, and his political instincts. On housing policy alone, he has posted multiple messages a day on social media to influence market expectations.

Rep. Lee Geon-tae, secretary of a lawmakers’ group seeking the withdrawal of indictments in cases involving President Lee Jae Myung and a parliamentary investigation, speaks about alleged fabricated prosecutions during the group’s launch ceremony and resolution meeting at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Seoul on Feb. 23. [YONHAP]

Despite this active communication style, Lee has made no public comment on a recent initiative within the ruling Democratic Party (DP). A group of 107 lawmakers has formed a caucus aimed at seeking the withdrawal of indictments against the president, arguing that the charges were fabricated by what they describe as a politically motivated prosecution. The party has since absorbed the group into an official internal body, making the effort a formal political objective.

Lee’s trials have been suspended following his election victory. If the indictments were withdrawn entirely, much of his legal risk would be removed. Given that the effort directly benefits the president, his silence has drawn attention.

Rep. Lee Geon-tae, a former defense lawyer for Lee and a leading figure in the initiative, argued that it is inconsistent with the principle of separation of powers for the judiciary to constrain a head of state elected by the people. He suggested that indictments could be withdrawn during the president’s term and refiled by a future administration if necessary.

Another participating lawmaker said prosecutors should cancel the indictments on their own but have instead continued related trials in an attempt to justify their actions, prompting legislative involvement. Since proceedings against other individuals connected to the cases are ongoing, the concern is that their outcomes could affect any future trial of the president once his term ends.

President Lee may have grounds for grievance. Questions about prosecutorial neutrality have long been raised, and politically motivated investigations have occurred under previous administrations. However, organized legislative efforts to push for the cancellation of indictments risk crossing into direct interference in the prosecution and trial process, potentially upsetting the balance among the three branches of government.

Such moves also carry broader implications. If a precedent is set in which a legislative majority pressures authorities to drop cases on political grounds, future ruling parties could label unfavorable investigations as fabricated and seek similar intervention.

Raising concerns about prosecutorial power or pursuing institutional reform is one matter. Linking those efforts directly to the withdrawal of indictments against a sitting president is another. In this context, Lee’s silence may be interpreted as a signal that he does not intend to restrain his party.

Meanwhile, several individuals connected to the cases have recently been acquitted. If the allegations of fabricated indictments are valid, the issue can be addressed through evidence and legal argument when proceedings resume. As head of state, the president has a constitutional responsibility to uphold the rule of law and could clarify his position on political efforts related to his own cases.

Lee’s approval ratings have reportedly reached a post-inauguration high, while the opposition remains weak. The ruling camp may feel little political risk. Public reaction, however, is not uniform.

A taxi driver in his 70s in Daejeon, who said he has supported the DP for decades, offered a mixed view. He praised the president’s overall performance but criticized the push to cancel indictments as excessive. If such efforts continue, he said, even longtime supporters could reconsider their backing. High approval ratings may not offset the cumulative effect of controversies over time.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.