Special Prosecutor on Corporal Chae Case: "Kim Yonghyun to Be Questioned at Detention Center... Former Gyeongbuk Police Chief Summoned on the 7th"

Kim Chulmoon to Be Summoned as Reference Witness at 2 p.m. on the 7th
Morning Search and Seizure at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seoul Office

The special prosecutor team led by Lee Myunghyun, which is investigating allegations of external pressure in the investigation into the death of Marine Corps Corporal Chae, announced on August 6 that it would question Kim Yonghyun, former Minister of National Defense, at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center, where he is currently incarcerated. On August 7, the team plans to summon Kim Chulmoon, former Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Chief, for questioning.

Kim Yonghyun, former Minister of National Defense. Yonhap News

Special Prosecutor Jeong Minyoung stated during a regular briefing that day, "Former Minister Kim, whom we intended to question today, appointed a defense attorney yesterday and requested to coordinate the schedule," adding, "Taking into account his status as a reference witness, we plan to conduct the questioning at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center."

Previously, the special prosecutor team had planned to summon former Minister Kim as a reference witness at 10 a.m. that day, but the session was canceled once due to a request from Kim's side for an investigative meeting at the detention center. Special Prosecutor Jeong said, "In the case of former Minister Kim, we are coordinating the schedule in consideration of his other trial dates," and added, "We will announce the schedule once it is set."

The special prosecutor team plans to summon former Chief Kim as a reference witness at 2 p.m. on August 7. Special Prosecutor Jeong stated, "The investigation also covers whether there were any illegal acts, such as external pressure, during the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police's investigation into the death of Corporal Chae," and added, "We plan to question former Chief Kim about the overall process of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police's investigation."

Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team began a search and seizure operation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, from the morning of August 6. Special Prosecutor Jeong said, "We are conducting the search and seizure to secure materials held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs related to the appointment of Lee Jongseop, former Minister of National Defense, as Ambassador to Australia and the charges of aiding and abetting a criminal."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.