The Corruption Investigation Office summons Im Eun-jeong as a complainant over allegations of 'forging complaint documents'

Lim Eun-jeong, Chief Prosecutor of the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office Important Economic Crime Investigation Division. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) summoned and investigated Im Eun-jung, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office's Major Economic Crimes Investigation Division, as a complainant in connection with the so-called 'complaint forgery cover-up suspicion' case.

On the 16th, the HCIC Investigation Division 1 (acting Chief Prosecutor Lee Daehwan) called in Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im, who had filed complaints or public interest reports regarding three cases: the 'complaint forgery cover-up suspicion,' the 'alleged leniency in the assault case of the late Prosecutor Kim Hong-young by former Chief Prosecutor Kim Daehyun,' and the 'emergency arrest case of Prosecutor Choi.'

Upon arriving at the HCIC that day, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im said, "For a year, they did not even call the complainant," adding, "There has been much criticism that the HCIC is somewhat incompetent, but as a complainant, I have been patient, and I came with the hope that they will work hard from now on."

Earlier, in July last year, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im filed a public interest report with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, alleging that former Prosecutor General Kim Sunam and others had uncovered the forgery of a complaint by Prosecutor Yoon of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office in 2016 but effectively covered up the case by accepting his resignation without disciplinary action.

Following the Commission's request for investigation, HCIC Investigation Division 1 conducted a search and seizure at the Busan District Prosecutors' Office in May. It is reported that the HCIC also attempted to summon former Prosecutor Yoon for questioning but was unsuccessful.

Additionally, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im filed a complaint last August against former Prosecutor General Kim and former Inspection Headquarters Chief Jeong Byeongha, among others, accusing them of leniency toward former Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim in 2016.

Furthermore, regarding Prosecutor Choi, who was urgently arrested on charges of leaking investigation records in 2018 but was acquitted by the Supreme Court last July, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im accused former Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il and former Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Chief Jo Eun-seok of leading an excessive investigation under the top leadership.

Meanwhile, HCIC Investigation Division 2 (Chief Prosecutor Kim Seongmun) is investigating a case in which Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im was reported for allegedly leaking official secrets related to the former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook's perjury intimidation case.