President Lee Jae Myung said that those who abuse state power to commit human rights violations, such as killing by torture, fabricating criminal charges and orchestrating coup d'etats, should face criminal punishment for as long as they live, "like Nazi war criminals."

Lee made the statement while presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul's Yongsan District on Tuesday, during a discussion with Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho about progress on a push to abolish the statute of limitations on acts of state violence.

A bill to such effect was passed but vetoed during the previous administration.

The president also advocated that the heirs of such perpetrators be held liable, within the scope of inherited assets, to prevent recurrence.

The minister replied that a resubmitted bill is pending before the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and the president instructed him to expedite the process.