Choi Juwon, then North Gyeongsang Police Chief, and Kim Cheolmun Among Those Raided
Investigating Possible External Pressure in 'Im Seonggeun Non-indictment'
Yoon's Appearance for Questioning on the 23rd Remains Unconfirmed
On October 22, Special Prosecutor Myunghyun Lee's team, which is investigating allegations of external pressure and cover-up in the Chae Sangbyung case, launched a comprehensive raid on the National Office of Investigation of the Korean National Police Agency, the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency, the South Jeolla Provincial Police Agency, and other locations. The targets of the search and seizure are police officers who were involved in or led the investigation into the Chae Sangbyung case at the time.
Special Prosecutors Myunghyun Lee and Sangbyung Chae are expressing their thoughts after the plaque ceremony at the special prosecutor's office set up in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 2, 2025. Photo by Dongju Yoon
At a regular briefing that day, Special Prosecutor Jeong Minyoung stated, "From this morning, prosecutors and investigators have been dispatched to the National Office of Investigation, the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency, the South Jeolla Provincial Police Agency, and other related agencies to execute search and seizure warrants against more than 10 police officers involved in the Chae Sangbyung case." Choi Juwon, Commissioner of the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency, Kim Cheolmun, Commissioner of the North Jeolla Provincial Police Agency, and Noh Gyuho, Chief of the Investigation Division at the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency, were also included among those subject to the search and seizure.
They have been accused and are under investigation as suspects for abuse of authority and dereliction of duty, while other related individuals are reportedly being treated as witnesses. It is known that the scope of the search and seizure has expanded due to personnel changes among the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency's investigation team at the time.
Special Prosecutor Jeong explained, "There were various questions when the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency transferred the records to the Ministry of National Defense Police Corps, and during the process of investigating the case that the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency had received from the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters, circumstances arose that warranted further clarification through search and seizure."
On August 2, 2023, the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency received case records from the Marine Corps Investigation Team, led by Colonel Park Junghoon, which specified Im Seonggeun, former Marine Division Commander, and seven others as suspects for occupational negligence resulting in death. However, due to the Ministry of National Defense's decision to withhold the transfer, the case records were returned to the Ministry of National Defense Prosecutors' Office.
On August 21 of the same year, the Ministry of National Defense transferred the case records to the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency, this time excluding former Division Commander Im and others as suspects. After a year-long investigation, the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency decided not to press charges against former Division Commander Im.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor's team, which has summoned former President Yoon Sukyeol for questioning on October 23, has not yet received a response regarding his appearance. Special Prosecutor Jeong stated, "We understand that former President Yoon's side has expressed a preference for being questioned during a visit to the detention center," adding, "Our position remains unchanged in that we expect him to appear for questioning."
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