Prosecutors Watch Closely for Signs of Quarantine Violations as 'Doksa' Yeo Hwan-seop Takes Action...

Omission of New Town List and Obstruction of Quarantine
Investigation Command Authority to Be Exercised if Crime Detected

Female District Chief Prosecutor Who Investigated Villa Sex Bribery
Announces High-Intensity Investigation and Command

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] If it is confirmed during the administrative investigation by the quarantine authorities that Shincheonji Church of Jesus (Shincheonji) omitted the list of believers, the prosecution is expected to immediately mobilize compulsory investigative powers. The investigation into the Shincheonji Daegu Church, a major source of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), is also expected to enter a new phase.

According to the prosecution on the 6th, the case, which was reported by Daegu City on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, is currently being handled by the Intelligent Crime Investigation Unit of the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency. The police are reportedly examining circumstances where the leaders of Shincheonji Daegu Church omitted some believers' names and obstructed quarantine activities. However, the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, which holds the authority to direct the investigation, is said to only review the search warrants requested by the police and is not actively involved in the case. This cautious approach to the investigation follows the directive of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol to "exercise prosecutorial authority to assist quarantine activities."

This situation is expected to change following the announcement of the results of the administrative investigation conducted by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on the Shincheonji headquarters the previous day. If circumstances that can be definitively called "quarantine crimes" are detected during the administrative investigation, the prosecution is highly likely to initiate a compulsory investigation, and in the case of the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, it may actively exercise its previously restrained investigative authority.

On the 1st, Yeo Hwan-seop, head of the investigation team related to the prosecution's past affairs investigation recommendation, which is set to clarify allegations of sexual assault and bribery involving former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, held a meeting with the press corps at the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where his office is located. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In particular, the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office is led by Chief Prosecutor Yeo Hwan-seop, who is considered a representative special prosecutor within the prosecution. Chief Prosecutor Yeo is a veteran investigator who has served as the head of the 1st Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Central Investigation Department and as the head of the Special 1st Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Known for his meticulous and persistent investigative style, he has earned the nickname "poisonous snake." Last year, he led the investigation team for the villa sex bribery allegations and successfully indicted former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, who had twice been cleared without charges.

Chief Prosecutor Yeo is currently closely monitoring the Shincheonji Daegu Church case by receiving daily reports on the police's search warrant applications. This is why there is talk that he will lead a rigorous investigation if criminal circumstances emerge. A legal insider familiar with the prosecution said, "If facts different from those previously known come to light during the administrative investigation, the case will not end without results," and added, "It is expected that all records will be thoroughly reviewed from the police investigation stage."