Search and Seizure of Lee Gwanhyeong and Others from "Meotjin Haebyeong"
Colonel Kim Hwadong Also Questioned as a Witness
At a regular briefing on the 24th, Special Prosecutor Jeong Minyoung stated, "The Special Prosecutor for Insurrection and the Special Prosecutor for Kim Keonhee executed search and seizure warrants issued by the court yesterday." He continued, "The Special Prosecutor for Insurrection took former Director Cho's mobile phone, while the Special Prosecutor for Kim Keonhee seized the mobile phone and USB drive related to former CEO Lee through the execution of the search and seizure warrant."
Previously, the special prosecutor's team had searched the residence of former CEO Lee Jongho on the 10th and the residence of former Director Cho Taeyong on the 11th. Former Director Cho attended the July 31, 2023 meeting where former President Yoon Sukyeol reportedly became enraged after receiving the initial investigation report on the Chae Sangbyeong case. Cho is currently under investigation by the Chae Sangbyeong Special Prosecutor for his involvement in delaying the transfer of the case and changing the list of suspects, which are seen as acts of external interference in the investigation. He has also become a target of the Special Prosecutor for Insurrection due to evidence that the information on secret phones belonging to former President Yoon, former NIS Deputy Director Hong Jangwon, and others was remotely deleted after the imposition of martial law.
Former CEO Lee Jongho is under investigation by the Chae Sangbyeong Special Prosecutor for allegedly lobbying Kim Keonhee, with whom he had a personal relationship, to have former 1st Marine Division Commander Lim Sungkeun excluded from the list of suspects for occupational negligence in connection with the Chae Sangbyeong death in the line of duty case. Lee is also a key figure in the Deutsche Motors and Sambu Construction stock manipulation allegations involving Kim Keonhee, making him a major target in the Kim Keonhee Special Prosecutor's investigation.
From 6 a.m. on this day, the special prosecutor's team conducted a search and seizure of participants in the KakaoTalk group chat "Meotjin Haebyeong," which is suspected to have been used as a channel for lobbying on behalf of former 1st Marine Division Commander Lim Sungkeun. Special Prosecutor Jeong stated, "Since this morning, the special prosecutor's team has been conducting searches of the residences of witnesses related to Meotjin Haebyeong." Among those targeted in the search and seizure was Lee Gwanhyeong, a former Marine who initially reported the lobbying allegations but later retracted his statement.
Meanwhile, starting at 10 a.m. on the same day, the special prosecutor's team summoned Colonel Kim Hwadong, commander of the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Marine Division, as a witness for questioning. Colonel Kim served as chief secretary to former Marine Corps Commandant Kim Gyehwan at the time of the Chae Sangbyeong death in the line of duty case.
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