Questioning the Circumstances Behind the Changed Investigation Results in the Chae Corporal Case
Kim Taehyo, former first deputy director of the National Security Office and a key aide in foreign and security affairs under the Yoon Sukyeol administration, appeared before the Special Prosecutor's Team for the Chae Corporal case on the 11th.
Kim Taehyo, former first deputy director of the National Security Office and a key figure in the Yoon Sukyeol administration's diplomatic line, is entering the office of the Special Investigation Team for Fallen Marines in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 11th to be questioned as a suspect. Photo by Yonhap News
At around 2:50 p.m. that day, Kim appeared at the office of the Special Prosecutor's Team for the Chae Corporal case as a suspect on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights. When asked by reporters, "Do you still maintain that President Yoon was not enraged?", "Who gave the order to withhold the transfer?", and "Were you involved in giving the order?", he entered the office without answering any questions.
Marine Corps reservists, who had been waiting in front of the special prosecutor's office, chanted "traitor" as Kim arrived and took the elevator up to the office.
Kim was one of the participants in the presidential chief aides' meeting on July 31, 2023, when the so-called "VIP rage" theory emerged. He is regarded as a key aide who led foreign and security policy in the Yoon Sukyeol administration.
The special prosecutor's team views Kim as a key suspect who, after witnessing former President Yoon's anger upon receiving the initial investigation results of the Chae Corporal death case from the Marine Corps investigation team during the meeting, became involved in exerting external pressure on the investigation.
The "VIP rage" theory refers to suspicions that after former President Yoon received the initial investigation results from the Marine Corps investigation team regarding the death of the late Corporal Chae Soogeun, he became angry and said, "If we punish the division commander for something like this, who would want to be a division commander?" Following this, it is alleged that former Defense Minister Lee Jongseop abruptly ordered a press briefing and the withholding of the case transfer to the police.
Previously, Kim had claimed that there was no report on the Chae Corporal case during the meeting and that former President Yoon was not enraged.
The special prosecutor's team is expected to focus its investigation on whether former President Yoon directly intervened to overturn the investigation results on that day, and what role Kim played in the process. The investigation will be led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Jeongmin.
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