South Korean President Lee warns against extremism in prosecution reform

President Lee Jae Myung has warned against “irresponsible extremism” that he claims could jeopardize effective prosecution reforms. Speaking via social media, Lee addressed critics who have accused him of backtracking on the Democratic Party of Korea’s long-standing agenda to strip prosecutors of investigative powers.

Lee argued that while some seek genuine reform, others use “all-or-nothing” approaches and inflammatory demands to serve hidden political or personal agendas. This tension follows a recent reform bill that leaves prosecutors with only the authority to indict and maintain indictments, whereas Lee has suggested allowing them to retain supplementary investigative rights in exceptional cases.

In a separate context during a Cabinet meeting, Lee also addressed social stability, citing low economic growth as a fundamental cause of unrest seen in Europe. He emphasized that South Korea must prioritize sustainable growth to prevent similar issues regarding youth unemployment and economic polarization.