Lee calls for sweeping legal reforms

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understand, noting that some existing laws could be outdated and unrealistic.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 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 status of a nation is not determined only by the economic strength of the
country. In the sense that all aspects of the country must meet international
standards to become an advanced nation, law and order must be maintained and our
moral values protected," Lee said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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