The special prosecutor team led by Lee Myunghyun, which is investigating allegations of external pressure in the death of Marine Corps Corporal Chae, has conducted a search and seizure of former Foreign Minister Cho Taeyul and former Presidential National Security Office Chief Jang Hojin in connection with suspicions regarding the appointment of former Defense Minister Lee Jongseop as ambassador to Australia.
On August 4, the special prosecutor team carried out search and seizure operations targeting former Minister Cho, former Chief Jang, and others. The team is focusing on whether any illegal acts occurred during the personnel verification, qualification review, or issuance of diplomatic passports when former Minister Lee, who was banned from leaving the country due to the investigation into Corporal Chae's case, was appointed as ambassador to Australia.
On the same day, the special prosecutor team also conducted search and seizure operations on former Justice Minister Park Sungjae, former Vice Minister of Justice Lee Nogong, former Director of the Ministry of Justice's Personnel Information Management Division Park Haengyeol, and former Director of the Immigration and Foreign Policy Headquarters Lee Jaeyu. These individuals are currently suspects in the special prosecutor's investigation due to their alleged involvement in the lifting of the travel ban on former Minister Lee in March 2024.
Special Prosecutor Jeong Minyoung explained at a briefing that day, "We have conducted witness interviews with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice, and based on the progress of the investigation so far, we determined that it was necessary to secure additional materials, which is why we initiated the search and seizure of those involved."
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