The prosecution launched its first forced investigation on the 20th into Lee Jeong-seop, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Judicial Research and Training Institute class 32), who has been accused of various misconduct allegations. This comes about a month after the allegations were raised and the Democratic Party of Korea filed a complaint against Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee with the prosecution.
The Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Seung-ho) sent prosecutors and investigators to execute search warrants at Yongin CC Golf Course and the Elysian Gangchon Resort in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. The prosecution is reportedly securing reservation, entry, and payment records from the golf course and resort.
The allegations against Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee were first raised by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Ui-gyeom during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit last month. Based on tip-offs and other information, Lawmaker Kim claimed that Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee allegedly accessed criminal records on behalf of golf course employees at the request of his brother-in-law, who operates the golf course.
He further alleged that Lee anonymously made reservations for the golf course at a low cost for senior and junior prosecutors and provided conveniences such as golf carts and caddies.
Additionally, there was an allegation that on December 24, 2020, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee attended a gathering at the Elysian Gangchon Resort with family and acquaintances, which was reportedly hosted by the vice chairman of a conglomerate group whom Lee had been investigating.
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee is in charge of investigating allegations of North Korea remittances involving the Ssangbangwool Group, related to Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung. Democratic Party lawmakers on the Judiciary Committee, including Lawmaker Kim, argued that it is inappropriate for Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee, who is under misconduct allegations, to lead the investigation into Leader Lee, and filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 18th of last month, accusing him of violating the Resident Registration Act and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
The Criminal Division 1 of the Central District Prosecutors' Office, which was assigned the case, summoned two individuals?a secretary and an aide from Lawmaker Kim Ui-gyeom's office?as complainants for questioning on the 3rd.
On the same day, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office appointed Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee as acting prosecutor at the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office emphasized, "The prosecution will conduct investigations and inspections with strict standards regarding allegations raised against internal members."
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee is also under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). The Democratic Party criticized the prosecution's handling of the investigation and filed an additional complaint against Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee with the CIO on the 10th. Furthermore, the Democratic Party is also considering impeaching Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee along with Son Jun-sung, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office (class 29), who is suspected of involvement in the 'complaint solicitation' allegations.
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