'Allegations of Special Treatment in Lee Seong-yoon's Corruption Investigation', Likely to be Transferred to Prosecution... Civic Group Files Objection with Police

Lee Seong-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, who was indicted on charges of exerting external pressure in the investigation of the illegal travel ban case involving former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, is attending a trial held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 20th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is facing an objection procedure from a civic group that accused Seoul High Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon of receiving a 'special treatment investigation' last year. Accordingly, the case is expected to be transferred from the police to the prosecution, where a decision will be made on whether to conduct supplementary investigations.

On the 26th, according to a compilation of Yonhap News reports, the civic group, the Speculative Capital Watch Center, submitted an objection letter against the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's decision not to indict Kim Jin-wook, the head of the CIO.

The group had accused Director Kim of allowing Prosecutor Lee (then head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office), who was a suspect at the time, to enter the CIO building using an official vehicle during the investigation of former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui's travel ban case in March last year, claiming it was a 'special treatment investigation.'

However, the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, which investigated the allegations, did not recognize any illegality, stating that providing the official vehicle was unlikely to be related to Lee's duties or involve any quid pro quo, and that the interpretation from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission indicated it was not a violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. They also decided not to transfer the case to the prosecution.

Through the objection letter, the Speculative Capital Watch Center argued, "Providing an official vehicle to block media exposure of suspect Lee Seong-yoon clearly violates the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, as it does not fall under the 'purpose of smooth duty performance.'"

Following the civic group's objection, the police are expected to transfer the case involving Director Kim to the prosecution soon. Due to the adjustment of investigative authority between the police and prosecution since last year, the police can close cases without indictment and handle them internally, but if the complainant or accuser raises an objection, the case must be transferred to the prosecution.