Lee tells morning Cabinet meeting prosecutors must avoid 'trap of infallibility'

A view of Cheong Wa Dae [Yonhap]
A view of Cheong Wa Dae [Yonhap]

Cheong Wa Dae said Monday that President Lee Jae Myung's warning to prosecutors at a morning Cabinet meeting — urging them not to "fall into the trap of infallibility" — reflected his "consistent philosophy on running the government." In an afternoon statement, the presidential office said Lee's longstanding view is that "the greater an institution's authority, the greater the responsibility that must accompany it."

"He was saying that prosecutors, too, must stay on guard against falling into the trap of infallibility," the statement added.

Lee issued the warning to acting Prosecutor General Gu Ja-hyeon after receiving a report on the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's policy achievements at the morning Cabinet session. "Anyone can make mistakes," Lee said. "When you do, you apologize and correct them. That applies to every institution."

He also stressed that prosecutors carry wide authority and must bear responsibility to match. "The prosecution is a quasi-public interest institution, a quasi-judicial body — an organization with duties of public interest and objectivity," Lee said. "It holds enormous power, and it must be held to equally enormous accountability."


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