Accused of "Unauthorized Provision of Inspection Materials" During Yoon's Tenure as Prosecutor General
The prosecution has once again cleared Lee Sungyun, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, and Park Eunjeong, a lawmaker from the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, of allegations that they conducted so-called "targeted inspections" when former President Yoon Suk-yeol was Prosecutor General.
On October 31, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (headed by Chief Prosecutor Kim Jiyeong) announced that it had dismissed charges against Lee and Park for alleged violations of the Protection of Communications Secrets Act, the Personal Information Protection Act, and the leakage of official secrets. The office stated, "Based on facts confirmed through related investigation and inspection records, administrative litigation, the Ministry of Justice's inspection regulations, and relevant legal principles, a decision of no charges was made." However, the allegation of abuse of authority was transferred to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, which has jurisdiction over such matters.
Previously, the group "Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea" (Hanbyun) filed a complaint with the prosecution against Lee and Park in December 2020, during the tenure of former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae. Hanbyun claimed that the Ministry of Justice conducted an inspection of then-Prosecutor General Yoon through improper procedures. The group also alleged that materials obtained under the pretext of inspecting then-Prosecutor Han Donghoon, who was implicated in the "Channel A case," were provided to the Ministry of Justice's Inspection Committee for use in the inspection of Yoon.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, after conducting an initial investigation of the complainants, dismissed the case in June 2021 and decided not to indict Lee and Park. The office determined that the materials were submitted for the performance of official duties as stipulated by law, and that providing the inspection materials to members of the Ministry of Justice's Inspection Committee could not be considered external disclosure or leakage.
In response, Hanbyun appealed the decision, arguing that the prosecutors' office's disposition was unjust. After reviewing the appeal, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office ordered a reinvestigation in June 2022, about a year later, directing that relevant materials be obtained again to determine whether charges should be filed. Upon receiving the case again, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office reached the same conclusion as before.
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