Prosecutors' Office Criticized for Securing 'Yoon's Call Records'
"Now They Must Deliver Proper Results in the Investigation"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at a luncheon for descendants of independence activists held on the 14th at the State Guest House of the Blue House. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Presidential Office criticized the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HOCI), which is investigating the alleged external pressure in the 'Chae Sang-byeong line-of-duty death case,' for the exposure of the investigation progress to the media, saying, "I do not know how much longer the public should tolerate the behavior of not properly conducting the investigation and leaking investigation secrets."
A Presidential Office official met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 14th and said, "It is questionable how HOCI's investigation secrets are being leaked to the media in real time," adding, "If someone intentionally leaked this, it would be a serious crime of official secret leakage and disclosure of suspect facts."
The official emphasized, "Those involved must be held accountable," and added, "There is a perspective raising questions about the fact that HOCI's investigation results are being leaked in real time through some media outlets and the opposition party repeatedly issues statements."
The Presidential Office official also criticized HOCI for obtaining President Yoon Seok-yeol's call records.
He explained, "Over the past year, while investigating the line-of-duty death of a Marine, HOCI has virtually failed to uncover any substantial truth, yet they are now looking into the current president's communication records, which is something we have comments on."
The official pointed out, "The police have already concluded that the abuse of authority charges against former Marine Division Commander Im Seong-geun are not recognized, and Colonel Park Jeong-hoon also stated at the hearing that there was no external pressure," adding, "The reality of the external pressure claimed by the opposition party is currently found to be nonexistent."
He further stated, "Meanwhile, HOCI has yet to even summon former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop for questioning," and added, "Yet they intend to look into the president's call records," reiterating his criticism.
The official added, "If they have already looked into the president's call records, what more do they need?" and said, "Now they must produce proper results from the investigation."
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