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Channel A Headquarters, Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The subcommittee for deliberation (sub-deliberation committee) that will decide whether to hold the Prosecutor's Investigation Deliberation Committee (Investigation Deliberation Committee), which was requested to be convened by former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae, a suspect in the ‘media collusion’ case, asking for “external experts to review whether to indict,” will be held on the 13th.

According to the legal community on that day, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Prosecutor Citizen Committee, which presides over the sub-deliberation committee, recently notified former reporter Lee and the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jung Jin-woong), which is investigating the case, to submit their written opinions by 9 a.m. on the same day.

Although the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is maintaining extreme confidentiality regarding the Investigation Deliberation Committee procedures, based on the precedent when the sub-deliberation committee for the case involving Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was held on the day both the applicant and the investigation team submitted their written opinions on the 11th of last month, it is expected that the sub-deliberation committee for the case applied for by former reporter Lee will be held that morning.

The Investigation Deliberation Committee requested by former Value Invest Korea (VIK) CEO Lee Cheol, who revealed on the 29th of last month that he was subjected to threatening coverage by former reporter Lee, has already been confirmed to be held after passing through the subcommittee.

Last week, the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), which filed a complaint against former reporter Lee and others with the prosecution, stated, “As a complainant, we firmly oppose the suspect raising issues about investigation fairness and will urge the investigation team to conduct a swift and strict investigation,” and applied for the convening of the Investigation Deliberation Committee for the third time. However, it is highly likely that PSPD’s request will not be accepted.

A prosecution official said, “In the case of PSPD, their qualification to request the convening of the Investigation Deliberation Committee may be problematic according to relevant guidelines,” and predicted, “The chairman of the Investigation Deliberation Committee may independently terminate the request.”

The ‘Operation Guidelines for the Prosecutor’s Investigation Deliberation Committee,’ a regulation of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, stipulates in Article 6 that among the parties involved in the case, the complainant, victim, and suspect can request the convening of the Investigation Deliberation Committee, whereas in the case of a complainant who is not a crime victim, only institutional complainants have the qualification to request convening.

An institutional complainant refers to a ministry or agency with official authority to file complaints, such as the Fair Trade Commission in cases of violations of the Fair Trade Act.

Since the Investigation Deliberation Committee for the relevant case is already scheduled to be held, it is expected that the sub-deliberation committee will also pass a ‘referral’ resolution on former reporter Lee’s request on the same day.

As there is no provision regarding consolidation in the related guidelines, if a second referral decision for the Investigation Deliberation Committee is made that day, it is highly likely that the chairman of the Investigation Deliberation Committee will consult with the selected current members through a draw and hold the two cases jointly.

Meanwhile, the conflict between Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over the investigation of this case was resolved last week, and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation team, guaranteed independent investigation, is accelerating the investigation.

The investigation team, which has resumed summons investigations of the case-related persons, is coordinating the timing of summoning Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon, who is suspected of collusion with former reporter Lee, while reportedly conducting a final review on the disposition of former reporter Lee’s custody.

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