'Accusation Instigation' Prosecutor Son Junsung Denies Charges in First Trial... Clash with Corruption Investigation Office Prosecutors

Sohn Junsung, Human Rights Officer at Daegu High Prosecutors' Office / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Son Junsung, the Human Rights Protection Officer at the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office, who was indicted over the so-called 'accusation solicitation' allegations, denied the charges at his first trial.

On the 27th at 2:20 PM, the Criminal Division 27 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Okgon) held the first pretrial hearing for Son, who was indicted on charges including violation of the Public Official Election Act, official secret leakage, and violation of the Personal Information Protection Act. The pretrial hearing confirms the defendant's position on the charges and plans the evidence investigation in preparation for the trial. Unlike a formal trial, the defendant is not required to attend, so Son did not appear in court that day.

Son's defense team fully denied the charges. They stated that Son was not involved in drafting the accusation documents, did not order the acquisition of court rulings, and did not send the accusation documents to Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party.

The defense attorney argued, "Many parts that should be recognized as objective evidence were reconstructed according to the social situation at the time to fit the charges," and "There was absolutely no fact of delivering the first and second accusation documents and related materials to Kim Woong." They added, "Even conceding a hundred times legally, according to the Public Official Election Act, the crime must be related to the official's duties or use their position, but the accusation documents and their delivery have no relation to the defendant's duties."

In response, the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (HOCI) prosecutor countered, "Considering the timing when the defendant sent each material and the fact that Kim Woong made calls before and after, it is recognized that the defendant directly delivered them."

The court said, "The most important issue will be whether the defendant sent the accusation documents and related materials to Kim Woong," and added, "I think this is a case that requires thorough legal review."

Since the case involving Kim Woong of the People Power Party is currently pending with the prosecution, whether to consolidate it with Son's case is expected to become an issue in future trial proceedings.

At Son's trial that day, both the HOCI prosecutor and the defense attorney stated they had no knowledge regarding Kim's indictment status. The defense said, "Instead of us asking the prosecution, it would be better if HOCI exchanges opinions with the prosecution to facilitate the trial," and the HOCI prosecutor said, "Even if indicted, the party responsible for maintaining the prosecution is different."

The court said, "There is the issue of consolidating the two cases. Since the witnesses overlap, it would be troublesome to have them appear twice, so it will be a concern if Kim is indicted." The next trial date was set for the morning of August 29.

Previously, Son was brought to trial on charges including conspiring with Kim Woong, then a candidate of the United Future Party, to influence the 2020 April general election while working as the Investigation Information Policy Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

HOCI viewed that Son exchanged accusation documents and real-name court rulings concerning many ruling party figures with Kim Woong to form negative public opinion against the Democratic Party side. HOCI dismissed abuse of power charges against Kim Woong and transferred the Public Official Election Act violation charges, which were judged to be committed in conspiracy with Son and are not subject to direct indictment under the HOCI Act, to the prosecution.