Prosecutors Support Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' Administrative Investigation, Turning Point for Forced Investigation

Administrative Investigation of Shincheonji Gwacheon Headquarters
Supreme Prosecutors' Office Supports Forensic Team Personnel and Equipment
Secures Believer List, Facility Addresses, etc.
Prosecutors Maintain Administrative Procedures Instead of Raids to Share Data with Quarantine Authorities
Analysis of Preliminary Procedures for Compulsory Investigation Also Underway

The prosecution flag is fluttering at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 30th, as the summons investigation of Jung Kyung-shim, a professor at Dongyang University and wife of Justice Minister Cho Kuk, is imminent. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] "I believe this proves that the investigation is proceeding according to the plan set by the prosecution."

A prosecution official, in a phone call with Asia Economy, evaluated the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's support for the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) administrative investigation of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus (Shincheonji) Gwacheon headquarters in this way. Until this investigation took place, the prosecution was on the defensive. Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae sent guidelines to the prosecution for a 'Shincheonji search and seizure,' and local governments pressured the prosecution, which was passive in forced investigations, through complaints and accusations targeting Shincheonji. However, this administrative investigation proved that the prosecution's policy of prioritizing quarantine does not mean a 'passive' investigation.

The controversy over the prosecution's passive investigation of Shincheonji and the conflict with the Ministry of Justice is expected to subside for the time being following the administrative investigation conducted the previous day. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office, in consultation with the CDSCH, supported the Shincheonji Gwacheon headquarters administrative investigation with digital forensic personnel and equipment. Through this, the prosecution is known to have secured, together with the CDSCH, the list of Shincheonji believers and trainees, attendance records by worship service, and the full address information of Shincheonji facilities.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In this process, the prosecution and quarantine authorities utilized administrative procedures instead of judicial procedures such as search and seizure or summons investigations. A Supreme Prosecutors' Office official said, "At present, administrative investigation is the most effective way to secure materials." Administrative investigation is a card that allows the prosecution to freely share investigations related to Shincheonji with quarantine authorities. Under current law, materials seized by the prosecution in criminal cases cannot be shared with other agencies. This could lead to issues such as official secrets leakage or disclosure of suspect information. Therefore, even if the prosecution obtains the Shincheonji believer list through search and seizure, it is difficult to deliver it to the CDSCH. It is reported that the prosecution considered this point most significantly.

The use of digital forensic techniques is also noteworthy. This is an investigative technique that analyzes various digital information left on PCs, laptops, mobile phones, and other storage media or the internet to find clues to crimes. Deleted or concealed materials can also be recovered. In the legal community, the National Digital Forensic Center affiliated with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office is regarded as the best in this field. The reason for deploying personnel from this center to the administrative investigation appears to be the consideration that Shincheonji may have already organized internal materials.

The prosecution and the CDSCH plan to review the materials obtained through this administrative investigation today (the 6th) and over this weekend. Some analysts suggest that this review could be a preliminary step leading to a forced investigation by the prosecution. If organizational quarantine crime charges such as omission of believer lists by Shincheonji are revealed, the prosecution will also gain justification to mobilize forced investigative powers.

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