Government Gwacheon Complex, Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials. [Photo by Yonhap News]
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HCIO) has assigned the case related to the allegation of the 'nomination recording' involving Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party, to the Special Investigation Headquarters (headed by Chief Prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan), which operates directly under HCIO Chief Kim Jin-wook.
On the 9th, HCIO announced that it had assigned the case filed by the civic group Judicial Justice Citizens' Action (JJCA), which accused President Yoon Seok-yeol and Lee Jin-bok, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs of the Presidential Office, of abuse of authority and obstruction of rights, to the Special Investigation Headquarters.
The Special Investigation Headquarters, established in February this year to handle cases requiring particular neutrality and independence, operates directly under the HCIO Chief. Unlike other investigative departments, it does not go through the usual approval lines but reports directly to and receives instructions from the Chief, functioning as a non-regular organization.
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan, who serves as the Investigation Planning Officer, concurrently holds the position of head of the Special Investigation Headquarters. The team consists of Deputy Chief Prosecutor Cha Jeong-hyun and one other prosecutor.
Previously, a media outlet reported an audio recording containing the voice of Representative Tae.
The recording included content where Representative Tae was heard telling his aides that "Senior Secretary Lee requested him to make supportive remarks regarding Korea-Japan relations in the context of the nomination issue."
After the recording was made public, both Representative Tae and Senior Secretary Lee stated that such a conversation never actually took place, but controversy over the Presidential Office's 'intervention in nominations' arose.
JJCA stated, "They coerced Supreme Council Member Tae to make statements defending the President at the Supreme Council meeting, forcing him to perform duties he was not obligated to do," and filed a complaint with HCIO against President Yoon and Senior Secretary Lee on charges of abuse of authority and violation of the Public Official Election Act.
Although Senior Secretary Lee and President Yoon were both reported, the likelihood of an actual investigation into President Yoon is very low. Under the Constitution, the President cannot be criminally prosecuted while in office except in cases of treason or bribery. Although theoretically prosecution is impossible, some hold the view that investigations can proceed by means other than arrest, detention, seizure, or search; however, in most cases, a non-prosecution disposition citing 'lack of prosecutorial grounds' is issued.
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