[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Since its formation in September last year until July, prosecutors dedicated to the Daejang-dong case have been accused of coaxing suspects with promises of 'non-detention leniency,' scapegoating or concealing the case, and leaking investigation secrets. These suspicions and testimonies have been mounting, leading to growing calls inside and outside the prosecution for an investigation into the higher-ups and those in charge of the investigation at the time.
According to the prosecution on the 30th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is considering an investigation into the initial Daejang-dong special investigation team's alleged coercion revealed through the testimony of lawyer Nam Wook. A prosecution official stated, "We plan to verify all the allegations raised concerning the Daejang-dong case."
If the seriousness of the situation is acknowledged, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office may order an internal investigation or inspection. Weekly reports on the progress of the Daejang-dong case investigation are submitted to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok, who receives these reports, may make a decisive move. On the 9th, lawyer Lee Sung-hee (age 58, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 25), a former prosecutor, was appointed head of the inspection department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, creating conditions to deploy the inspection team at any time.
The initial Daejang-dong special investigation team, led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-hoon, has continuously faced allegations of inadequate investigation. Then, on the 28th, during the trial of former People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do on bribery charges held before the 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Joon-cheol), the prosecution's interrogation record of lawyer Nam was disclosed, intensifying the suspicions. Regarding this record, lawyer Nam testified, "I returned to Korea in October last year after being coaxed by the prosecution, who promised to arrest only four people: Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation; Kim Man-bae; Choi Yoon-gil, former chairman of the Seongnam City Council; and one Seongnam city official." He also added that the investigation team called his side twice to urge his return. In response, a member of the investigation team denied the allegations as "groundless" the day before, but internal analysis within the prosecution suggests that an investigation is inevitable. If proven true, the involved prosecutors are likely to face severe disciplinary action internally, as the matter appears to be very serious.
There are also calls for accountability for the higher-ups who led the investigation team. Alongside this, renewed attention is being paid to allegations of collusion between former Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Chief Lee Jung-soo, who supervised the Daejang-dong investigation, and Jeong Jin-sang, Director of Political Coordination at the Democratic Party's Office of the Party Leader. It is alleged that before the investigation team searched the home of former Director Yoo, former Deputy Director Kim Yong of the Democratic Research Institute or Director Jeong was informed of the search, and an agreement was made not to arrest Yoo if he was hospitalized. This surfaced after former Director Yoo testified during the prosecution investigation that "Director Jeong said he had already discussed matters with Prosecutor General A, who was leading the investigation at the time." Former Chief Prosecutor Lee vehemently denied this, stating, "I have never met or contacted Director Jeong or others."
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