Prosecutors Detect Evidence That Rep. Kim Byung-wook of the Opposition Party Passed 'Daejang-dong Investigation Records' to a Reporter

On the eve of the last presidential election, it has been reported that the prosecution detected circumstances in which a reporter who covered the so-called 'Yoon Seok-yeol coffee' suspicion received the Daejang-dong investigation records from Rep. Kim Byung-wook of the Democratic Party of Korea. The prosecution plans to thoroughly investigate whether there was a behind-the-scenes force involved in using this report as material to attack President Yoon in the final stages of the presidential election, including this circumstance.

Officials from the special investigation team of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for the 'Presidential Election Interference Public Opinion Manipulation Case' entered the office of Representative Kim Byung-wook at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 11th to conduct a search and seizure of Choi, an aide to Representative Kim Byung-wook of the Democratic Party of Korea.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the legal community on the 25th, the special investigation team of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Team Leader Kang Baek-shin, Head of Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1) confirmed during the analysis of seized items related to Bong Ji-wook, a reporter formerly affiliated with JTBC, that Bong received the 'Daejang-dong investigation record file' from Rep. Kim's side. This included interrogation records of private contractor Nam Wook and other suspects, as well as witness statements from loan broker Jo Woo-hyung.

In a report on February 21 last year, Reporter Bong disclosed Nam's November 19, 2021, statement, claiming to have obtained the investigation records. According to this, Nam testified to the prosecution that "When Jo Woo-hyung was undergoing his second investigation by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office regarding the Busan Savings Bank case, Kim Man-bae said, 'Just have a cup of coffee today,' and after Jo was investigated, the chief prosecutor actually made coffee for him, and unlike the first investigation, treated him very well." Reporter Bong reported that "the chief prosecutor at the time was Yoon Seok-yeol, head of the Central Investigation Division 2."

The prosecution is also said to have detected circumstances that Rep. Kim's side provided Reporter Bong with the contact information of Jo's cousin, Lee Cheol-soo. Lee appeared as a source in Bong's article on February 28 last year. At that time, Lee said regarding Jo's second Supreme Prosecutors' Office investigation, "He said he used a lawyer named Park Young-soo through someone's introduction, and the investigation just didn't proceed." This was used as evidence supporting the credibility of Nam's testimony previously reported by Bong.

Reporter Bong explained that after the February 21 report, Lee contacted him, and an interview was conducted. However, contrary to this, call records secured by the prosecution reportedly include content suggesting that Rep. Kim's side was involved in the contact process between the two.

The prosecution is investigating on the suspicion that Reporter Bong deliberately omitted Jo's testimony and interview, despite knowing that Jo fully denied the allegations of investigation suppression, and instead pieced together and reported only the contents of Nam's statement received from the Democratic Party side.

The interim report of the fact-finding committee released by JTBC on the 17th also reveals circumstances where Reporter Bong repeatedly confirmed from Jo himself that the allegations of investigation suppression were untrue.

In an interview on October 26, 2021, with Reporter Bong and PD A, Jo answered "No" to the question, "Have you ever met Chief Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol?" JTBC confirmed that Reporter Bong had obtained Jo's statement containing this content. Bong also said in a phone call with Lee on February 22 last year, "Jo Woo-hyung was again investigated as a witness this time. But he denies that the person he met was Yoon Seok-yeol. He denies it like that, even during our interview."

The prosecution is expected to summon Reporter Bong as a suspect for investigation once the forensic work on the seized items is completed. Reporter Bong denies all related allegations. He maintains that he could not fully trust Jo's testimony, especially since Jo persistently denied being the actual owner of Cheonhwa-dongin No. 6, contrary to facts confirmed in the Jung Young-hak recording, and that he verified and reported through testimonies of close aides.