Song Cheol-ho, Song Byung-gi, Kim Ki-hyun, Baek Won-woo, etc.
Investigated as suspects and witnesses,
but Im Jong-seok, Hwang Un-ha remain
Prosecution likely delayed if key personnel change
[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] There are expectations that the prosecution's investigation into the Blue House's interference in the Ulsan mayoral election will come to a halt following the scheduled 'mid-level executive personnel reshuffle' on the 23rd. Although the prosecution did not slow down the investigation even after the 'January 8 high-level personnel reshuffle' that replaced the investigation leadership, it is anticipated that maintaining this momentum will be difficult once the person in charge of the practical work is also changed. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the indictment of related parties will be delayed beyond the original plan.
The election interference investigation was reassigned on November 26 last year to the Public Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (led by Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-eun) under the direction of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. Since then, a high-intensity investigation has continued. Song Cheol-ho, Mayor of Ulsan; Song Byung-gi, Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs of Ulsan; former Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon; former Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Baek Won-woo; and former Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Han Byung-do were all questioned as suspects or witnesses. Now, only former Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok and former Director of the Police Human Resources Development Institute Hwang Un-ha (then Chief of Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency) remain. Over the 56 days since the case was reassigned, most of the key related figures have been questioned by the prosecution.
However, no indictments have been made yet. The fact that Mayor Song was summoned for the first time on the 20th, which some interpreted as the investigation nearing its conclusion, has proven unfounded. Initially, the prosecution reportedly planned to complete the investigation by next month (February) to avoid influencing the April parliamentary elections.
The delay in indictment appears to be due to setbacks in securing physical evidence and the custody of suspects. In December last year, the prosecution failed to unlock the mobile phone of a prosecution investigator who was identified as a key figure and who had committed suicide. This investigator was known as a member of the so-called 'Baek Won-woo special squad,' and his phone likely contained conversations with Baek, the former secretary, and other higher-ups in the Blue House. The prosecution also failed to secure custody of Deputy Mayor Song, another key figure in the case. The arrest warrant requested on the 31st of last month was rejected by the court, causing a temporary halt to the investigation targeting current and former Blue House officials. Two days after the high-level personnel reshuffle that demoted close aides of Prosecutor General Yoon, the prosecution attempted to conduct a search of the Blue House on the 10th, but it was unsuccessful due to the Blue House's refusal to submit materials.
Meanwhile, if the mid-level executive personnel reshuffle takes place on the 23rd, the indictment is expected to be further delayed. In this reshuffle, it is highly likely that Shin Bong-su, the second deputy chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office who is practically leading this case, and Kim Tae-eun, head of the Public Investigation Division 2, will be demoted. On the afternoon of the 20th, the Ministry of Justice held a prosecution personnel committee and stated that "the personnel changes for deputy chief prosecutors in charge of major frontline investigations will be postponed." However, even if some investigative staff remain, with the entire leadership replaced, it is widely believed that maintaining the investigation's pace will be difficult. From the perspective of those scheduled for questioning, including Director Hwang, who is currently coordinating summons dates with the prosecution, there seems to be an incentive to delay questioning until after the leadership change. The prosecution plans to investigate former Chief of Staff Im after the Lunar New Year holiday, independently of the mid-level personnel reshuffle, and to continue questioning key Blue House officials reportedly involved in the election interference during Mayor Song's election process.
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