Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon Takes Leave for Personal Reasons Ahead of Indictment

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Lee Seong-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, took a day off on the 12th and did not go to work.

According to the legal community, Chief Prosecutor Lee took a day off for personal reasons.

On this day, the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office investigation team was scheduled to indict Chief Prosecutor Lee. It is speculated that his leave is not unrelated to this.

The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office plans to send Chief Prosecutor Lee to trial on this day after receiving approval from Acting Prosecutor General Cho Nam-gwan the day before. To consolidate this case with the ongoing case of Prosecutor Lee Gyu-won at the Seoul Central District Court, the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office investigation team must be appointed as acting prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

From Chief Prosecutor Lee's perspective, it may have been uncomfortable to observe these procedural developments.

Some speculate that Chief Prosecutor Lee may be contemplating his position, but within the prosecution, such speculation is being denied.

Chief Prosecutor Lee is accused of exerting external pressure and obstructing the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Anyang Branch, which was investigating the illegal travel ban allegations against former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui during his tenure as head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2019. Chief Prosecutor Lee completely denies the allegations.