Changed Public Corruption Investigation Office, from Investigation to Search and Seizure

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The activities of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Gong-su-cheo) are gaining momentum. Alongside launching investigations into Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon's special recruitment allegations and Prosecutor Lee Gyu-won's suspected falsification of the 'Yoon Joong-chun meeting report,' the agency has also conducted its first search and seizure. Since the beginning of this month, starting with the establishment of office regulations, the agency has been issuing a series of internal rules related to investigations, suggesting that the scope of future investigations may further expand.

The search and seizure targeting the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education concerning Superintendent Cho's alleged unfair special recruitment of dismissed teachers concluded only in the evening of the 18th. The agency deployed about 20 investigative personnel from 9:30 a.m. to 7:10 p.m., conducting searches of the 9th-floor superintendent's office and deputy superintendent's office, as well as the 10th-floor policy planning office.

Superintendent Cho is accused of instructing the relevant departments to proceed with the special recruitment of five dismissed teachers in July-August 2018, charged with abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights. This case is the first to be assigned a case number by the agency since its inception, making it the 'No. 1 case' and also the first search and seizure operation. The agency is also reportedly planning to investigate the then chief secretary, who was in charge of personnel matters related to the dismissed teachers, and the department heads who were excluded after expressing opposing opinions.

The agency's 'Prosecutor No. 1' case has also commenced investigation. This pertains to Prosecutor Lee Gyu-won, who was active in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Past Affairs Investigation Team, regarding allegations of falsifying the 'Yoon Joong-chun meeting report.' The agency recently assigned a case number and initiated the investigation.

Prosecutor Lee is accused of falsifying official documents while working in 2019 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Truth Investigation Team, a practical body of the Ministry of Justice's Prosecutorial Past Affairs Committee. He allegedly met with Yoon Joong-chun, a key figure in the sexual bribery allegations involving former Ministry of Justice Vice Minister Kim Hak-eui's villa, and falsified the meeting report.

Previously, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, while investigating a defamation complaint filed by People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do and former Daegu High Prosecutors' Office chief Yoon Gap-geun against Prosecutor Lee, recognized allegations of high-ranking official crimes under the Gong-su-cheo Act and notified the agency in March. However, it appears that the agency has not yet summoned Prosecutor Lee or conducted any compulsory investigation. Prosecutor Lee is currently seconded to the Fair Trade Commission.

Within the legal community, it is anticipated that evaluations of the agency will vary significantly depending on the investigation outcomes of Superintendent Cho and Prosecutor Lee. The ruling party has strongly criticized the agency's selection of Superintendent Cho's case as the first investigation, arguing that it contradicts the agency's founding purpose of checking the prosecution. Additionally, tensions between the agency and the prosecution continue. Regarding the 'investigation commencement notification' for Prosecutor Lee's case, the agency sent an official letter titled 'Notification of Investigation Commencement on Suspected Officials' to the Prosecutor General on the 14th, but the prosecution pointed out a flaw, stating that a copy should also have been sent to the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.