Fifth Reference Witness Investigation for Colonel Park Junghoon
Focus on Allegations of External Pressure and Targeted Investigation
Former Commander Hwang Yuseong to Be Questioned About Information Collected and Ministerial Instructions
The special investigation team led by Lee Myunghyun, tasked with probing allegations of external pressure and cover-up in the death of Private First Class Chae, will summon the commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, a military intelligence agency, on August 30 to investigate information collected at the time of the incident and related responses.
Hwang Yuseong, former Commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command (Lieutenant General). Ministry of National Defense
On August 29, Special Prosecutor Jeong Minyoung stated at a regular briefing held at the special prosecutor's office in Seocho-dong, Seoul, "Tomorrow, we plan to summon Hwang Yuseong, former Commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command (Lieutenant General), as a reference witness," adding, "The Defense Counterintelligence Command collected and managed a significant amount of information regarding the series of events that occurred within the Marine Corps and the Ministry of National Defense following the death of Private First Class Chae."
This will reportedly be the first time that former Commander Hwang has been questioned by investigative authorities in connection with the Chae case.
Special Prosecutor Jeong said, "We plan to question former Commander Hwang Yuseong about matters he was briefed on or directed in relation to the death of Private First Class Chae, information the Defense Counterintelligence Command had identified at the time, and instructions he received from then-Minister of National Defense Lee Jongseop."
The special investigation team is expected to focus on what information former Commander Hwang collected after Colonel Park Junghoon, head of the Marine Corps investigation unit, reported and received approval for the initial investigation results from then-Minister Lee on July 30, 2023, and whether any illegality was recognized in the process.
On the day after the report, then-Minister Lee ordered the suspension of the case’s transfer to the police and the cancellation of a press briefing, immediately following the so-called "VIP outrage." However, on August 2, 2023, Colonel Park proceeded to transfer the case as originally planned. In response, the Ministry of National Defense's prosecution unit unlawfully retrieved the case that same day, charged Colonel Park with leading collective insubordination, and launched an intensive investigation.
Regarding suspicions of external pressure and targeted investigation against Colonel Park, the special investigation team summoned him for the fifth time as a reference witness on this day. It is reported that this session focused on the circumstances surrounding Colonel Park's dismissal from his position as head of the investigation unit on the day the investigation records were transferred.
At around 9:55 a.m., Colonel Park's legal representative appeared at the special prosecutor’s office and stated, "There is intelligence that Kim Donghyuk, former head of the Ministry of National Defense prosecution unit, and Yoo Jaeun, former director of legal affairs at the Ministry of National Defense, communicated with the president of the military court before and after the issuance of search and seizure and arrest warrants for Colonel Park," adding, "We hope the special investigation team will promptly verify suspicions that external pressure was exerted on the military court."
In connection with this, the special investigation team summoned and questioned Seo Sunghoon, president of the Central District Military Court, as a reference witness on August 26.
It is known that in August 2023, when the Ministry of National Defense prosecution unit raided the Marine Corps investigation unit, President Seo spoke by phone with former chief prosecutor Kim Donghyuk regarding the search and seizure warrant.
He is also reported to have spoken by phone in September of the same year with former legal affairs director Yoo Jaeun concerning an incident in which the method of entry for Colonel Park, who visited the Central District Military Court for a warrant hearing, became a point of contention between the military court, military prosecutors, and Colonel Park’s side.
Special Prosecutor Jeong explained, "Since we confirmed that there was communication with a military court official, we summoned the individual for questioning, but so far, we have not found sufficient grounds to actively proceed with an investigation."
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