Starting Today, Kim Seon-gyu, Head of Investigation Division 1, Serves as Acting Commissioner
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) notified lawyer Han Dong-su (former head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department) on the morning of the 22nd to appear, on suspicion of conspiring with Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im Eun-jeong in March 2021 to leak inspection details.
On the morning of the 20th, Lawyer Han posted on his Facebook along with a photo of the prosecution's summons dated March 18, stating, "I have been notified to appear on March 22 as a suspect for questioning," and added, "I previously requested disqualification, avoidance, and reassignment. Although I am quite concerned whether Deputy Chief Kim Seon-gyu, whose resignation has not been accepted by the Presidential Office, can conduct a fair investigation, I will do my best to respond legally."
Attorney Han Dongsu (left) and Chief Prosecutor Im Eunjeong, who are under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for Secret Disclosure of Official Duties.
According to the prosecution's summons disclosed by Lawyer Han, the HCIC designated him as a suspect for leaking official secrets obtained as a prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department, in conspiracy with Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im, who was also part of the Inspection Department, between March 2 and 3, 2021, when he served as head of the Inspection Department.
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im, who was the Inspection Policy Research Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, disclosed the inspection process on Facebook on March 4, 2021, related to allegations that the prosecution investigation team investigating former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook's violation of the Political Funds Act had coerced and pressured inmates to commit perjury.
The HCIC, which began investigating Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im on suspicion of leaking official secrets following a citizen group's accusation, discovered evidence of Lawyer Han's conspiracy during the investigation and registered him as a suspect for further inquiry.
Meanwhile, the HCIC appeared to refrain from making statements, seemingly mindful of the Presidential Office's sensitive reaction regarding Ambassador Lee Jong-seop's departure from Australia.
On the 18th, when the Presidential Office announced, "Ambassador Lee was not only granted permission to lift the travel ban by the Ministry of Justice but also received approval from the HCIC before being assigned to Australia," the HCIC immediately refuted this through a media notice, stating, "There are factual inaccuracies in some parts of the Presidential Office's statement. The HCIC does not have the authority to lift travel bans. Therefore, during the investigation of the related case, we never permitted the departure, and we submitted an opinion to the Ministry of Justice recommending the maintenance of the travel ban in response to the related party's objection to the travel ban."
Initially, when faced with numerous inquiries from the press, the HCIC stated in the morning, "There are so many inquiries that it is impossible to organize them," and added, "We will organize the journalists' questions and provide a collective response."
However, in the afternoon, the HCIC issued a statement to the press corps saying, "Due to many media inquiries regarding the return of the Australian ambassador today (the 20th), we inform you as follows," and requested understanding, stating, "The investigation team has only received media reports so far, so we have no special comments to make."
Ambassador Lee is expected to return soon ahead of the heads of mission meeting in Seoul starting on the 25th, which will be attended by ambassadors from South Korea's major defense cooperation countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, Qatar, Poland, and Australia.
The HCIC announced that with Chief Prosecutor Kim Seon-gyu of Investigation Division 1 returning from leave, Kim will serve as acting chief, and Song Chang-jin, head of Investigation Division 2, will serve as acting deputy chief.
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