The special prosecutor team led by Lee Myunghyun, which is investigating allegations of external pressure in the death of Marine Corporal Chae, conducted a search and seizure at the Ministry of Justice's Gwacheon Government Complex on August 5 in connection with suspicions surrounding the appointment of former Defense Minister Lee Jongseop as Ambassador to Australia.
According to the legal community on August 5, the special prosecutor team carried out the search and seizure at the Ministry of Justice's Gwacheon Government Complex from the morning. This marks the second consecutive day of compulsory investigations, following simultaneous raids on senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice, both key departments under the Yoon Sukyeol administration, conducted the previous day.
Previously, the special prosecutor team had executed search and seizure warrants on Park Sungjae, former Minister of Justice; Shim Woojung, former Vice Minister; Lee Nogong, former Vice Minister; Park Haengyeol, former Director of the Personnel Information Management Division; and Lee Jaeyu, former Director of the Immigration and Foreign Policy Headquarters, all of whom served during the Yoon Sukyeol administration.
The special prosecutor team is examining the circumstances under which the travel ban on former Minister Lee Jongseop, who was under investigation as a key suspect in the external pressure allegations, was suddenly lifted. They are also investigating whether there were instructions from higher authorities, including the Presidential Office.
Former President Yoon appointed Lee Jongseop as Ambassador to Australia on March 4 of last year. At the time of his nomination, Lee Jongseop was under a travel ban due to his status as a suspect in a Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) investigation. However, the Ministry of Justice lifted the travel ban on March 7, just three days after his appointment, immediately after Lee Jongseop appeared before the CIO for questioning. As controversy over his 'fleeing abroad' grew, Lee Jongseop returned to Korea after 11 days and voluntarily resigned only 25 days after being appointed ambassador.
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