Prosecutors' Office Ends Search of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education After 10 Hours

Officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) are carrying boxes as they move to conduct a search and seizure at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 18th regarding allegations of unfair special hiring of dismissed teachers involving Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC) Investigation Division 2 (Chief Prosecutor Kim Sung-moon) completed the search and seizure of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, which began on the morning of the 18th, after 10 hours.

On that day, the PCC conducted a search and seizure of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education regarding allegations of the unfair special recruitment of dismissed teachers by Seoul Mayor of Education Cho Hee-yeon.

From 9:30 a.m. to around 7:10 p.m., about 20 personnel were deployed to conduct the search and seizure of the 9th floor mayor's office, deputy mayor's office, and the 10th floor policy planning office. Mayor Cho did not come to the office due to an external event, and his lawyer participated.

Mayor Cho is accused of instructing the relevant departments to push for the special recruitment of five dismissed teachers in July-August 2018 (abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights). This case is the 'Case No. 1' to which the PCC assigned a case number after its launch, and it is the first search and seizure since the investigation began.

Earlier, the Board of Audit and Inspection announced the results of an audit regarding Mayor Cho's special recruitment allegations on the 23rd of last month, filed a complaint with the police for violating the National Public Service Act, and provided reference materials for the investigation to the PCC.

After reviewing the case, the PCC assigned the case number '2021 PCC 1' to Mayor Cho's case based on the audit materials at the end of last month. Subsequently, the PCC requested the police to transfer overlapping investigations, and '2021 PCC 2' also became a case related to Mayor Cho.

The PCC is expected to proceed with summoning the suspect soon following the search and seizure.

On the same day, PCC Chief Kim Jin-wook told reporters near the Government Gwacheon Complex regarding Mayor Cho's summons investigation, "They are likely coordinating the date."

The PCC is also known to plan to investigate the former chief secretary who was in charge of personnel affairs related to the dismissed teachers at the time, as well as the former department and section chiefs who were excluded after expressing opposing opinions.