Ministry of Justice Cancels Search Warrant for Kim Woong in 'Gobal Saju' Allegation Case

Kim Woong, Member of the People Power Party [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The court has decided to cancel the search warrant issued to the office of Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, which the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HCIO) had obtained to investigate the 'report solicitation' allegations.

According to the legal community on the 26th, Judge Kim Channyeon of the Criminal Division 31 at the Seoul Central District Court accepted Kim's petition for a quasi-appeal requesting the cancellation of the search warrant.

The HCIO has registered and is investigating Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, and Prosecutor Son Joon-sung on four charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of rights in connection with the report solicitation allegations. The allegation is that when Yoon was Prosecutor General, Son, who was the head of the Investigation Information Policy Office at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, solicited Kim (then a candidate for the Future United Party in the general election) to file reports against figures from the ruling party.

On September 10, the HCIO attempted to search Kim's office to verify the related allegations, but members of the People Power Party, including floor leader Kim Ki-hyun, strongly protested.

The People Power Party argued that the search procedure was illegal because the HCIO only presented the warrant to an aide, leading the HCIO to halt the initial search. Subsequently, on September 13, the HCIO sent prosecutors and investigators again to Kim's office to conduct the search.

Kim's side filed a quasi-appeal with the court on September 11, immediately after the first search was effectively canceled, seeking to cancel the search warrant. A quasi-appeal is a procedure to challenge a disposition by a prosecutor or others in court.