Prosecutors Re-discuss Wire Communication for Re-executing Search Warrant at Cheongwadae

Search Warrant Re-execution as Early as 13th... National Assembly to Process Prosecution-Police Investigation Authority Adjustment Bill

[Asia Economy Reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Song Seung-yoon] On the 13th, the prosecution decided to conduct telephone consultations with the Blue House regarding the re-execution of the search and seizure of the Office of the Secretary for Autonomy Development.

According to legal circles, the Public Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-eun) will proceed with the re-execution of the search and seizure after completing telephone consultations with the Blue House on the same day. The Blue House search and seizure has traditionally been conducted through voluntary submission with the cooperation of the Blue House to secure necessary materials. The process involves completing consultations on the targets and locations of the search and seizure and then receiving the agreed-upon materials.

The prosecution is expected to carry out the search and seizure as early as the afternoon of the same day. The prosecution continued preparations for the search and seizure of the Office of the Secretary for Autonomy Development, which failed to be executed on the 10th. After the Blue House criticized the search list as an "illegal investigation" arbitrarily prepared by the Blue House, the prosecution undertook supplementary work. A key Blue House official told reporters on the 12th, "We hope the prosecution will comply with proper procedures going forward."

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is moving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, ahead of a courtesy visit to Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae on the 7th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The prosecution prepared for the search and seizure to secure materials related to Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho’s public hospital pledge from the Blue House Office of Balanced Development. The Blue House stated that it would cooperate with the search and seizure procedures conducted according to lawful procedures but did not hide its suspicions regarding the prosecution’s intentions. There are concerns that the search and seizure conducted against the Blue House immediately after the Ministry of Justice’s personnel reshuffle of the prosecution may be politically motivated.

The Blue House is focusing on securing momentum for prosecution reform, coinciding with the National Assembly’s plenary session scheduled for the afternoon to handle the police and prosecution investigation authority adjustment bill and other political timetables. The Blue House plans to issue a separate message once the police and prosecution investigation authority adjustment bill passes. Additionally, President Moon Jae-in is expected to deliver further messages regarding the disciplinary debate over Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and controversies over prosecution personnel during his New Year press conference on the 14th.

Meanwhile, the personnel reshuffle of the prosecution carried out by Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae has received a slightly higher negative evaluation within the margin of error. According to a public opinion survey conducted by Realmeter on behalf of CBS on the 10th, targeting 502 adults nationwide, 43.5% gave a positive evaluation of the prosecution personnel reshuffle, while 47.0% gave a negative evaluation.

Positive evaluations exceeded 50% among Honam, people in their 40s, progressives, and ruling party supporters. Negative evaluations surpassed 50% among Chungcheong, Daegu·Gyeongbuk, those aged 60 and over, conservatives, and Liberty Korea Party supporters. This survey was conducted with a 95% confidence level and a sampling error of ±4.4 percentage points.

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