Prosecutor General's Office, District Prosecutor's Office, and Corruption Investigation Office All Join... Expanded Scope of 'Gobal Saju' Allegations

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The intensity of the investigation into the prosecution's 'accusation solicitation' allegations during former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's tenure has increased. The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Department, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department have all launched investigations or inquiries into the same allegations. They are expected to continue verifying the suspicions even during the Chuseok holiday.

According to the legal community on the 17th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has officially activated the investigation team handling the case filed by Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, and Hwang Hee-seok, a Supreme Council member, who accused five charges including abuse of authority. The investigation team is reportedly composed of prosecutors from the Central District Prosecutors' Office Public Investigation Division 1 (Chief Prosecutor Choi Chang-min), prosecutors from the Criminal Division 12, which mainly investigates digital crimes, and researchers dispatched from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

The Public Investigation Division is a dedicated department for election crimes that the prosecution can directly investigate. Although the complaint specifies five charges including abuse of authority, the prosecution is interpreted to focus primarily on violations of the Public Official Election Act in its investigation.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department's fact-finding investigation has not yet concluded. This is proceeding separately from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation, and the investigation team at the Central District Prosecutors' Office is expected to conduct its investigation based on the fact-finding work carried out by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. The key issue is identifying who originally drafted the accusation documents reportedly delivered to Cho Seong-eun.

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Department also began its investigation on the 10th by registering former Prosecutor General Yoon and Prosecutor Son Jun-sung as suspects and conducting searches of Son's residence and office. The department is reportedly verifying the possibility that Prosecutor Son did not write the accusation documents himself, or that the accusation documents sent by Son were passed through others before reaching Assemblyman Kim Woong and then Cho. Additionally, the investigation is focusing on identifying individuals who had access to the undisclosed information recorded in the accusation documents.

Meanwhile, Kim Jin-wook, head of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Department, expressed a strong determination to investigate. Kim stated regarding this matter, "The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Department has no choice but to investigate," and added, "We will conduct it fairly and swiftly." He particularly explained, "The substantive truth-finding began with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office fact-finding investigation, but since forced investigations could not be conducted, it was a phase that had to transition to an investigation."

Kim said, "Although it started as a fact-finding investigation by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, forced investigations were not possible, so at some point, it inevitably had to transition to an investigation," and added, "The core of this case is the charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of rights exercise, so the authority to investigate lies with the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Department."

However, concerns about overlapping investigations by the relevant investigative agencies are not insignificant. Regarding this, Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, said, "Concerns about human rights violations and overlapping investigations are fully understood," and added, "I expect the investigative agencies to resolve this well." The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office also stated, "We will consult and cooperate within the scope that does not overlap with the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Department and proceed with the investigation according to laws and procedures."