Police Summon Chung Jinsuk as Suspect over 'Presidential Office PC Wiping'

Allegations Raised Over Wiping of 1,000 Presidential Office PCs
Police Book Him as a Suspect on Charges Including Abuse of Authority

The police, who took over the insurrection independent counsel case and are conducting an investigation, have summoned former presidential chief of staff Chung Jinsuk as a suspect over allegations that he ordered the wiping of about 1,000 presidential office PCs around the time of former President Yoon Sukyeol's impeachment.

The Special Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency began questioning Chung at around 10:10 a.m. on the 8th as a suspect on charges including damage to official electronic records, violation of the Presidential Records Act, and abuse of authority. This is his first appearance before the police.

Police Summon Chung Jinsuk as Suspect over 'Presidential Office PC Wiping'

Chung Jinsuk, former chief of staff to the president, appeared before police on the 8th as a suspect on charges including damage to official electronic records, violation of the Presidential Records Act, and abuse of power. Yonhap News

Chung is suspected of having ordered, together with former presidential secretary for general affairs Yoon Jaesoon, the wiping of presidential office PCs around the time of former President Yoon Sukyeol's impeachment. Previously, allegations were raised that in April last year, in preparation for a change of government, he received a report on and approved the so-called "Plan B" PC-wiping operation that Yoon had arranged.

The independent counsel team had earlier secured testimony that Yoon instructed presidential office staff at the time to "throw the PCs into a steel mill blast furnace and dispose of them," and investigated the possibility that the presidential office attempted to destroy evidence in anticipation of an investigation related to emergency martial law. However, because of the sheer volume of records, the probe could not be completed within the investigation period.

The Special Investigation Headquarters summoned Yoon for questioning on the 3rd.