Attempted Search and Seizure in Marine Corps Member's Death Alleged Pressure Case Halted After Six Hours
CIO: "Further Discussions on Execution to Continue"
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (CIO) attempted to conduct a search and seizure of the Presidential Secretariat and the National Security Office in connection with allegations of external pressure related to the death of a Marine Corps member involving former President Yoon Sukyeol, but halted the operation after about six hours. This marks the first time the CIO has taken compulsory investigative action against the Presidential Office since launching its investigation into the Marine Corps member's death.
On the afternoon of the 7th, the CIO announced to the media, "The search and seizure of the Presidential Secretariat and the National Security Office by the investigative team was halted at around 5:30 p.m., and further discussions regarding the execution are planned." It is reported that the CIO presented a warrant at around 11 a.m. that day, demanding the submission of meeting materials from the Presidential Office and access records from around July 31, 2023?when the so-called "Yoon's outrage theory" was raised. However, it appears that the CIO decided to withdraw for the time being, as further discussions were needed regarding the method and scope of submission, such as voluntary submission.
Officials from the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office, investigating allegations of external pressure in the case of a Marine Corps member's death involving former President Yoon Sukyeol, are entering the Yongsan Presidential Office Civil Petition Office in Seoul on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News
Notably, server records for the number '02-800-7070'?which was called before former Defense Minister Lee Jongseop ordered the cancellation of the Marine Corps investigation team's briefing on the circumstances of Private Chae's death and the withholding of the case from the police?were also included in the seizure targets. Although it is not confirmed who used the number, which is registered under the Presidential Security Service, records show that before calling former Minister Lee, calls were made to then-National Security Advisor Cho Taeyong (currently Director of the National Intelligence Service) and then-Presidential Legal Secretary Joo Jinwoo (currently a People Power Party lawmaker).
On July 30, 2023, former Minister Lee approved the Marine Corps investigation team's findings to refer eight officers, including former 1st Marine Division Commander Lim Seonggeun, to the police on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death, but reversed this decision the following day. The CIO suspects that pressure from former President Yoon played a role in this process. It is alleged that during a senior secretaries' meeting attended by the National Security Office on the morning of July 31, former President Yoon, upon receiving the investigation report, became enraged and reprimanded former Minister Lee, who then ordered the cancellation of the press briefing and the withholding of the investigation results from Kim Gyehwan, then-Commander of the Marine Corps.
The CIO named former President Yoon and former Minister Lee as suspects for abuse of authority in the search and seizure warrant issued that day. The investigation, which had continued until late November last year with Ministry of National Defense officials questioned as witnesses, was temporarily suspended to focus on the investigation into the martial law and rebellion cases, but has recently resumed.
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