Cha Gyugeun, a research fellow at the Legal Research and Training Institute who was indicted for involvement in the illegal travel ban of former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, is attending a trial held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 15th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Cha Gyu-geun, a research fellow at the Legal Research and Training Institute who is on trial for involvement in the 'Illegal Departure Ban of Former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui' case, has been suspended again after being transferred to the position of policy advisor to the Minister of Justice. Cha announced that he would take legal action, claiming the transfer was unjust.
According to the legal community on the 25th, Cha was appointed as the policy advisor to Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon on the 23rd and was subsequently suspended from his position.
Cha was indicted in April last year on charges including approving the illegal emergency departure ban imposed on former Vice Minister Kim by Lee Gyu-won, then a prosecutor of the Past Affairs Investigation Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, in March 2019, while Cha was serving as the head of the Immigration and Foreign Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Justice. In July, he was reassigned as a research fellow at the Legal Research and Training Institute.
Cha's side stated, "He was already relieved from his position as head of the bureau (Senior Grade A) when he was reassigned as a research fellow (Senior Grade B) at the Legal Research and Training Institute on July 2 last year," adding, "This suspension imposes a double disadvantage." They also announced, "We plan to take active legal measures, including filing an appeal for review."
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