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Prosecutorial, judicial reforms must not be swayed by ruling bloc power struggle

Published: 10 Mar. 2026, 00:00

Lee Jae Myung attends an emergency economic review meeting on the situation in the Middle East at the main building of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 9. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Divisions have surfaced within the ruling camp over plans for prosecutorial reform, raising concerns that political calculations could overshadow the broader public interest.

The conflict began in January after the government proposed establishing a Public Prosecution Office and a Major Crimes Investigation Office. Hard-line lawmakers on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea criticized the plan, arguing it weakened earlier pledges to reform the prosecution service.

President Lee Jae Myung suggested the Public Prosecution Office should retain authority to conduct supplementary investigations when necessary. Hard-line lawmakers rejected the idea, and the party eventually agreed to grant prosecutors only the authority to request supplementary investigations rather than carry them out directly.

Some lawmakers have also pushed to further limit the investigative authority of the Major Crimes Investigation Office and even remove the title of prosecutor general.

Lee has since taken to social media to urge restraint within the ruling bloc. On Saturday, he wrote that even after becoming president, the governing forces “cannot and should not do everything they want,” adding that political interests of individuals or factions must not take precedence over the nation’s future or public welfare.

The remarks were widely interpreted as criticism of hard-line lawmakers. Yet debate inside the ruling camp has intensified.

Posts on some online communities warned that support for the president could be withdrawn if prosecutorial reform stalls. Meanwhile, pro-Lee communities accused certain lawmakers of being “traitors,” underscoring deepening tensions.

Lee addressed the issue again the following day, warning that reforms must not condemn entire institutions. He said reform should not result in “burning down the house to catch bedbugs,” stressing the need for careful, targeted measures.

Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho echoed that view, saying the criminal justice system belongs to all citizens.

These divisions have fueled worries that prosecutorial and judicial reforms may be driven more by political objectives than by citizens’ rights and interests.

Lee has described reform as something that should be carried out in a “surgical” manner. Yet the recently enacted judicial reform laws, including the offense of distorting the law, could bring changes to the judicial order comparable to constitutional revision.

Despite public calls for reconsideration, the government quickly approved the measures at a Cabinet meeting.

Whether prosecutorial or judicial reform is pursued, institutional design should be shaped through broad public debate with citizens’ rights placed at the center.

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.