Key facts
- Prosecution has not considered withdrawing indictments against President Lee Jae Myung.
- Remarks made during a parliamentary audit of the prosecution.
- President Lee Jae Myung is immune from criminal prosecution while in office, except in cases of insurrection or treason.
A senior prosecutor stated on October 19, 2026, that the prosecution has not considered withdrawing indictments against President Lee Jae Myung. Park Chul-woo, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, made the remarks during a parliamentary audit of the prosecution. Responding to a question from opposition lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, Park said that while he was aware of public interest in the cases, they were treated like any other. He declined to comment on how specific cases would be handled or whether an indictment or arrest would be pursued. Park also stated he was not involved in the work of a fact-finding team under the justice ministry's future committee for respect for human rights, which some believe could provide grounds for dropping charges. Lee faced multiple criminal trials before winning the presidential election in June last year, but these trials have been suspended due to presidential immunity from prosecution, except in cases of insurrection or treason.