Instructions Given to Justice Minister Chung Sungho
Concerns Raised Over Inadequate Investigation and Prosecutors' Testimonies
President Lee Jaemyung has reportedly instructed officials to consider measures such as establishing a permanent special prosecutor to address concerns over an inadequate investigation into the loss of the "Bank of Korea currency band" related to Geonjinbeopsa.
According to the presidential office on September 6, President Lee recently gave these instructions to Justice Minister Chung Sungho. This move is interpreted as a call for a more rigorous investigation, given growing doubts about whether the prosecution can thoroughly uncover the truth in this case, especially after observing the attitudes of prosecutors' investigators during the National Assembly's prosecutorial reform legislative hearing held the previous day (September 5). However, the presidential office clarified that this is not a directive to assign the investigation to Special Prosecutor Min Junggi's team, which is currently investigating allegations related to First Lady Kim Keonhee.
The case dates back to December of last year, when the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office raided the home of Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjinbeopsa, and seized bundles of cash, including Bank of Korea currency bands worth 50 million won. However, they failed to identify the source of the funds before handing the case over to the special prosecutor. The situation has become dependent on testimonies, as the currency band and sticker-containing information such as the date of inspection, responsible person, and department-were lost.
During the hearing the previous day, investigators from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office consistently responded, "I don't remember," when persistently questioned by Democratic Party lawmakers about the circumstances surrounding the loss of the currency band.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
