All PCR Tests for Corruption Investigation Office Staff Negative... Postponed Testing Meeting to Be Held Soon
Kim Jin-wook, Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] As cases of indiscriminate access to communication data or communication records (confirmation data of communication facts) by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Gong-su-cheo) continue to be discovered, sparking controversy over 'surveillance,' it has been revealed that Gong-su-cheo accessed the communication data of Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon's wife, minor children, and fan cafe members, causing a major stir.
Prosecutor Han, whose family members were subjected to communication data access, strongly opposed, saying, "Although I have been involved in investigations for a long time, I have never seen or heard of an investigative agency acting recklessly without regard for human rights or the constitution," adding, "This is not a normal investigative method."
On the 9th, Chosun Biz reported that last year, Gong-su-cheo accessed the communication data of Prosecutor Han's wife and minor children, as well as members of Han's fan cafe 'Withhooni' and members of the '22C Republic of Korea and Yoon Seok-yeol' cafe, which supports Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate. The report included a photo of a 'Communication Data Provision Details Confirmation' document received by a woman in her 50s, a member of Withhooni who was subject to communication data access by Gong-su-cheo, along with a screenshot of her post on the cafe. According to the confirmation, this woman was subjected to communication data access by the third investigation division of Gong-su-cheo, which is investigating the 'accusation inducement' suspicion, in October last year.
In a statement released that afternoon, Prosecutor Han pointed out, "Gong-su-cheo, which strictly limits its investigation targets to high-ranking officials, is intimidating and unsettling innocent citizens by indiscriminately accessing communication data of private individuals engaged in club activities."
He continued, "Now everyone will feel anxious thinking 'Could it be me too?' and will think 'To avoid troublesome and harsh situations, I must self-censor from now on.' It seems that the malicious effect of intimidating citizens into shrinking back has already been achieved."
Prosecutor Han criticized, "In the political arena, baseless brain-theories are raised to demand Gong-su-cheo investigations, and pro-government groups file complaints with Gong-su-cheo, which then 'language-plays' and forcibly fits the 'picture,' indiscriminately searching through opponents of power, whether journalists or civilians, in a dragnet fashion. Even when nothing comes out, they dismiss it as 'because they are amateurs' and sweep it under the rug. Such incidents are repeating."
He referred to the pro-government civic group Judicial Justice Restoration Civic Action (Sasehaeng, led by Kim Han-me), which filed complaints against candidate Yoon 20 times last year, leading Gong-su-cheo to register Yoon as a suspect and investigate him, and mentioned that last month, Deputy Director Yeowoon-guk of Gong-su-cheo, who appeared at the warrant hearing for Prosecutor Son Joon-sung, said "Our Gong-su-cheo is amateurish," emphasizing that Gong-su-cheo is conducting excessive investigations deviating from political neutrality.
Prosecutor Han claimed that Gong-su-cheo's investigative procedures are problematic and constitute surveillance of civilians.
He emphasized, "Although I have been involved in investigations for a long time, I have never seen or heard of an investigative agency acting recklessly without regard for human rights or the constitution," adding, "This is not a 'normal investigative method.'"
Prosecutor Han said, "Who, for what reason, and through what procedures did this happen must be specifically revealed and held accountable," warning, "If not, from now on, arbitrarily searching and intimidating whoever displeases will become the 'normal investigative method' and the 'new normal.'"
He added, "For reference, Yoo Si-min and Hwang Hee-seok defamed my honor by claiming the existence of non-existent account tracking, but the current surveillance of civilians, journalists, and politicians by Gong-su-cheo clearly exists."
Since TV Chosun first reported on the 8th of last month that Gong-su-cheo accessed communication data of reporters in the legal affairs teams 15 times following the 'Lee Seong-yoon Emperor Escort' report, it has been confirmed that over the past month, more than 160 reporters from legal affairs or political departments of dozens of media outlets, including Asia Economy, and 4 foreign correspondents were subjected to communication data access by Gong-su-cheo.
Communication data of opposition party presidential candidate Yoon, his wife Kim Geon-hee, key personnel from the People Power Party primary camps including Hong Joon-pyo, Yoo Seung-min, and Won Hee-ryong, People Power Party floor leader Kim Ki-hyun, policy committee chairman Kim Do-eup, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and 80 opposition party lawmakers participating in a KakaoTalk group chat were also accessed.
Additionally, communication data access by Gong-su-cheo was conducted on Lee Jong-bae, head of the civic group 'Action Alliance for the Restoration of the Rule of Law' (Beopse-ryeon), which filed a complaint against Gong-su-cheo Chief Kim Jin-wook; the head of the Veterans Future Union, a veterans' organization supporting survivors and bereaved families of the Cheonan ship sinking; and six members of the university student group 'New National University Student Representatives Council.'
On the 30th of last month, Chief Kim, who appeared before the National Assembly, said, "I will reflect on whether the scope of access is too broad," but also rebutted, "I cannot say it is excessive," and "It is not surveillance."
Meanwhile, on the 7th, Gong-su-cheo planned to hold a prosecutor meeting attended by Chief Kim and Deputy Director Yeowoon-guk to discuss current issues including controversies over communication data access and search and seizure. However, after one staff member tested positive for COVID-19, the entire building floor was closed for disinfection, and the meeting was postponed.
Subsequent PCR tests conducted on all staff showed that all senior officials and employees of Gong-su-cheo tested negative, and no additional confirmed cases have been reported, so the postponed prosecutor meeting is expected to be held this week.
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