Chae Sangbyung Special Prosecutor Fails to Secure Custody of Two Former High-Ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division Deputy Chief Prosecutors Accused of Obstructing Investigation

Accused of Delaying the Chaesangbyung Investigation
Court Dismisses Arrest Warrant, Citing "Room for Legal Dispute"

The special prosecutor team led by Lee Myunghyun has failed in its attempt to secure the detention of two former deputy chief prosecutors of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division, who are accused of obstructing the investigation into the death of Chaesangbyung.

Kim Seon-gyu (left) and Song Chang-jin, former deputy chief prosecutors of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division, who are accused of obstructing the investigation into the death of Chaesangbyung, are leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 17th after completing the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing). Photo by Yonhap News.

Nam Sejin, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, rejected the arrest warrants for the two on the 17th after a warrant hearing, stating, "There is room for factual and legal dispute regarding the criminal charges, so it is necessary to allow the suspects to fully exercise their right to defense without being detained."

The judge further added, "Given the evidence collected, there appears to be little risk that the suspects could destroy evidence at this time. Considering their stable employment, family ties, the progress of the investigation, and their attendance record, it is difficult to see a risk of flight or evidence destruction."

Former Deputy Chief Prosecutors Kim and Song are accused of deliberately obstructing and delaying the investigation while acting as the chief and deputy chief of the division last year during the Chaesangbyung case probe.

Kim is specifically accused of obstructing the investigation into the external pressure on the Chaesangbyung case while serving as acting chief in the first half of last year. The special prosecutor's team believes Kim instructed investigators not to summon key figures related to the investigation into external pressure on the Chaesangbyung case ahead of the April 10 general election.

Song, while acting as deputy chief in June last year, is accused of interfering with the request for search and seizure warrants for former President Yoon Suk-yeol's personal mobile phone and the presidential office's internal phone lines. At a meeting presided over by Chief Oh Dongwoon at the time, Song reportedly said, "I cannot approve the search and communication warrants. If I am excluded from the approval process, I will resign."

Additionally, the special prosecutor's team is investigating Song for alleged perjury under the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly. Song was reported by Democratic Party lawmakers after testifying before the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee in July last year that he was unaware of Lee Jongho, former CEO of Black Pearl Invest, being implicated in the Marine Corps investigation interference case. Song previously served as legal counsel for Lee in the 2021 Deutsche Motors stock manipulation investigation.

The special prosecutor's team suspects that both Kim and Song, who previously worked with former President Yoon and are considered "pro-Yoon" prosecutors, may have allowed their relationship with Yoon to influence their handling of the investigation.

Having failed to secure their detention, the special prosecutor's team is considering reapplying for arrest warrants and will decide on indictments for the remaining suspects. The team announced plans to indict former President Yoon on charges including abuse of authority within this week. The investigation deadline is November 28.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.