Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure at Golf Course Identified as Reception Venue for Constitutional Court Justice Lee Young-jin

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division, currently investigating the hospitality allegations against Constitutional Court Justice Lee Young-jin, conducted a search and seizure at the golf course identified as the venue for the hospitality on the 30th.

The Investigation Division 3 (Deputy Chief Prosecutor Cha Jeong-hyun) carried out the search and seizure at golf course A in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, in the afternoon, securing usage records and related materials.

The golf course A, searched by the prosecution on this day, was the location where Justice Lee was reported to have met with businessman Lee and others in October last year.

Justice Lee is suspected of having met businessman B, a friend of Mr. Lee, for the first time at this location, played golf together, and then moved to a restaurant operated by Mr. B to have a meal together.

Mr. B claimed that when he confided about his divorce lawsuit concerns, Justice Lee mentioned that he knew the chief judge of the Family Court and would help with the lawsuit, and that through the lawyer handling the case, he delivered 5 million won in cash and golf apparel to Justice Lee.

Justice Lee acknowledged playing golf and dining with Mr. B but stated that there was no conversation related to the trial at that time and denied receiving any money or goods.

Meanwhile, the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division, which has been unable to fill its prosecutor quota, announced on the same day that it would newly appoint two deputy chief prosecutors with backgrounds in prosecution special investigations and violent crime units, and one prosecutor who previously served as an official at the division.