The special investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Lee Myunghyun, which is probing allegations that former Defense Minister Lee Jongseop fled to Australia, announced on the 29th that it will summon former Prosecutor General Shim Woojung (also former Vice Minister of Justice) as a suspect at 10 a.m. on the 30th.
This is the first time that former Prosecutor General Shim will be questioned by the special investigation team.
Former Prosecutor General Shim Woojung is appearing as a respondent on the 21st at the office of Special Investigator Jo Eunseok's Special Investigation Team for Sedition, set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, to be investigated regarding the reason for not filing an immediate appeal when former President Yoon Seokyoul's detention was canceled. Photo by Yonhap News
Shim, who served as Vice Minister of Justice in March last year, is suspected of being involved in a series of actions including the appointment of former Minister Lee as ambassador to Australia, the lifting of his travel ban, and his departure from the country. He faces charges of aiding a suspect's escape and abuse of authority.
In July 2023, at the time of the death of Private Chae, former Minister Lee, who was in charge of national defense affairs, became a key suspect in allegations of external pressure on the investigation. He was placed under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and was subject to a travel ban.
However, on March 4 last year, he was abruptly appointed as ambassador to Australia, and four days later, on March 8, his travel ban was lifted and he left the country.
The special investigation team is expected to question former Prosecutor General Shim about the circumstances under which the travel ban on former Minister Lee was suddenly lifted, and whether there were any instructions from higher authorities, including the presidential office.
In connection with these allegations, the special investigation team conducted searches and seizures last month targeting former Minister Park Sungjae, former Prosecutor General Shim, former Vice Minister Lee Nogong, and other Ministry of Justice officials at the time, in order to secure physical evidence supporting the suspected crimes. On the 23rd, the team also summoned former Vice Minister Lee for questioning.
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