Public Opinion on Forced Investigation of Shincheonji, Pressure on Choo... Yoon Seok-yeol Cornered (Comprehensive)

Plans to File Additional Complaints by Victims' Solidarity Regarding Choo Mi-ae's Search and Seizure Guidelines
Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Also Pressures Ministry of Health and Welfare
Boiling Blue House National Petitions
Prosecutors Interested in Public Response
Prosecutors to Support Government's Shincheonji Administrative Investigation Today
"Maintaining an Investigation System That Helps Quarantine"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Gwan-ju, Kim Hyung-min, Song Seung-yoon] As public pressure mounts for the prosecution to conduct a forced investigation into Shincheonji Church of Jesus (Shincheonji), the prosecution’s stance emphasizing a "cautious investigation for quarantine purposes" is becoming increasingly difficult. Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae’s directive for a "Shincheonji search and seizure" continues, and the Shincheonji Victims Solidarity has added plans for additional accusations. A petition for the dismissal of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who has not initiated an investigation, has also emerged, while the police, who have been at odds with the prosecution, are accelerating their own investigation. Only the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the "control tower" handling the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), supports the prosecution’s cautious approach, but if pressure from the higher authority, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, intensifies, even the Central Disaster Headquarters may abandon the prosecution’s side.

The National Shincheonji Victims Solidarity, which had filed a complaint against Lee Man-hee (89), the Shincheonji chairman, held a press conference in front of the Blue House on the morning of the 5th, raising six suspicions including embezzlement of surgery fees and slush fund creation, and urged a forced investigation into Chairman Lee. The Solidarity stated, "With this level of evidence, even an ordinary case would clearly prove the grounds for a search and seizure related to the crime," and pressured the prosecution, which has been reluctant to conduct a search and seizure, by saying, "If the prosecution hesitates to conduct a search and seizure, it will be difficult to avoid criticism that there is something politically at play."

The Blue House’s national petition board is also boiling over. This is due to a petition demanding the dismissal of Prosecutor General Yoon, who is known to have instructed a cautious response to the Shincheonji search and seizure. As of 10:30 a.m. that day, 67,326 citizens had agreed. They are angry, saying that Shincheonji deliberately omitted some of the member lists and submitted false data, thereby obstructing quarantine efforts and promoting the spread, and that responsibility must be held.

The Ministry of Justice, backed by public opinion, is pressuring the prosecution to "actively conduct forced investigations." Minister Chu appeared before the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 4th and said, "More than 86% of the public demands a search and seizure," urging the prosecution to conduct a search and seizure. This is based on a result announced on the 28th of last month by the polling agency Realmeter, which surveyed 501 adults nationwide aged 18 and over. The police are also moving in the same direction as the Ministry of Justice. So far, the police, centered on the "COVID-19 Rapid Response Team," have identified the whereabouts of about 6,000 Shincheonji members who had lost contact. They are now focusing their investigative efforts on suspicions of omitted member lists and refusals of forced measures by quarantine authorities.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Image source=Yonhap News]

These voices are acting as pressure on the "inactive" prosecution. The level of pressure is expected to increase over time, but at present, it is difficult to predict that the prosecution will immediately change its investigative stance in response. As of the 4th, local prosecution offices are investigating 113 cases related to COVID-19, including cases where Seoul city and civic groups have accused Chairman Lee, but they are not actively pursuing the Shincheonji search and seizure. This appears to strongly reflect Prosecutor General Yoon’s intention to emphasize a "cautious investigation that can help quarantine."

Within the prosecution, there are concerns that a premature search and seizure could sever Shincheonji members’ cooperation with quarantine efforts, causing hesitation in conducting the search and seizure. The prosecution has also explained that there was a request from quarantine authorities to refrain from forced investigations such as search and seizure. Kim Kang-rip, the first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster Headquarters, said at a regular briefing on the 2nd, "If Shincheonji members hide or refuse to disclose information due to coercive measures, it could have adverse effects on quarantine, so we are keeping that in mind." However, after it was revealed that the Central Disaster Headquarters sent a cooperation letter to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office seemingly urging the prosecution to investigate, there is speculation that the prosecution is under pressure from higher authorities such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare or the Blue House.

Meanwhile, the Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office twice rejected search warrants requested by the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency to search the Shincheonji Daegu church. The reason was that it was unclear whether the incorrect member list submitted by Shincheonji was intentional or accidental. The police plan to apply for the warrant again after supplementary investigations, which could further intensify the clash between the prosecution and police.

However, some in the legal community analyze that "the timing for the search and seizure has already been missed." They predict that there will be no practical benefit from the search and seizure. Since the fact that the investigative authorities considered a search and seizure of Shincheonji was exposed externally, it is believed that Shincheonji had enough time to destroy evidence.

Meanwhile, the quarantine authorities and the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office have begun an administrative investigation of the Shincheonji church headquarters in Gwacheon on the same day. The government is conducting the administrative investigation, and the prosecution is supporting it. Kim Kang-rip, the chief coordinator of the Central Disaster Headquarters, said at a briefing that morning, "Repeated questions have been raised about the reliability of the member list submitted by Shincheonji, so we judged that verification of the data is necessary," and added, "The administrative investigation started at 11 a.m." The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office also stated, "We are providing technical support such as forensic personnel and equipment in close consultation with the Central Disaster Headquarters through administrative support (inter-agency administrative assistance, Article 8 of the Administrative Procedures Act), and we will actively support the Central Disaster Headquarters’ administrative investigation, which is currently the most effective way to secure data."

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office further emphasized, "We have previously announced a policy to strictly punish organized and planned quarantine crimes, including conducting investigations with detention," and added, "The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office communicates closely with the central quarantine authorities, and each district prosecutor’s office communicates closely with local quarantine authorities, maintaining an investigative system that assists the quarantine authorities’ efforts."

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