Prosecutors Resume Search of Kim Woong's Office... Court Assigns Appeal Panel for 'Warrant Cancellation'

Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, is attending and speaking at the Environment and Labor Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 13th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PCC) investigating the 'accusation manipulation' allegations has resumed the search and seizure at the office of Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party.

At around 2 p.m. on the 13th, the PCC's Investigation Division 3 (Chief Prosecutor Choi Seokgyu) began re-executing the search warrant at Kim's office in the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul.

Previously, on the 10th, the PCC attempted to conduct a search and seizure at Kim's office but was unable to execute the warrant and withdrew after an 11-hour standoff due to obstruction by Kim and some People Power Party lawmakers.

The following day, the People Power Party filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office against PCC Chief Kim Jinwook, one PCC prosecutor, and five investigators, totaling seven people, accusing them of abuse of authority, obstruction of rights, and illegal search and seizure, claiming the PCC's actions were unlawful. On the same day, Kim also submitted a quasi-appeal to the Seoul Central District Court requesting the cancellation of the PCC's search warrant.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Central District Court assigned Judge Kim Channyeon of Criminal Division 31 to handle Kim's quasi-appeal case. A quasi-appeal is an objection filed against a judge's ruling or a prosecutor's disposition, and if the court accepts Kim's quasi-appeal, the PCC must obtain the warrant again.

Kim is suspected of having handed over the accusation documents concerning passport personnel, which he received from Son Junsung, former Investigation Information Policy Officer of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (currently Human Rights Protection Officer at Daegu High Prosecutors' Office), while exchanging messages on Telegram with whistleblower Jo Seongeun regarding the accusation manipulation allegations last April.