(LEAD) Lee calls for sweeping legal reforms

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional remarks, more details)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak urged a sweeping reform of the
country's laws Wednesday to simplify the judicial system and make it easier to
understand, noting that some existing laws could be outdated and unrealistic.

The president said it is important to keep order in a society, but that to do so
it is more important to first provide laws that can be followed and enforced.
"Our laws are too difficult (to understand). The Ministry of Government
Legislation is working to change legal terms into everyday language, but even
college graduates often cannot understand them unless they have studied law," Lee
said at a policy briefing given by the legislation ministry, the justice ministry
and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.
"We live in a new era following an industrialization period, so the law, too,
must be changed to fit the new era," the president added.
The remarks could indicate a significant shift in the president's view on law and
order as he has often stressed the importance of strict enforcement and
observance of laws.
Lee noted the people were starting to have more faith in the legal system.
"It is important that the people are now realizing the need to respect the law,"
he said.
The president vowed additional efforts to root out corruption by government
officials and politicians.
"The people can't help but feel more lost if those in high government offices
with power and job security engage in corruption or other crimes," the president
later told the meeting, according to his spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye.
"The people believe there are more among those with power who are corrupt but
simply have not been caught yet," he was quoted as saying.
Lee's call for an anti-corruption campaign came as the prosecution has come under
strong criticism from the opposition for summoning and indicting former Prime
Minister Han Myeong-sook on suspicion of receiving bribes from a local
businessman while serving under the former liberal government of Roh Moo-hyun.
President Lee said accusations that the investigation is politically motivated
are groundless, but urged a thorough and fair investigation, according to the
spokeswoman.
He said the government, or the prosecution, must take full responsibility when or
if an innocent person is charged.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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