Conflict between prosecutors, is the next trigger the Optimus investigation?

Unlike the initial rapid pace, there has been little movement since the executives' arrest
Some suggest the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is slowing down due to ruling party figures' involvement
Possibility of renewed conflict between Yoon and Lee over summons and arrest warrant requests for those involved

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] There has been much speculation recently about the relative quietness of the prosecution's investigation into Optimus Asset Management (Optimus), which caused a fund redemption suspension scandal worth hundreds of billions of won.

According to the legal community on the 14th, the prosecution has taken no significant action for a week since arresting three executives of Optimus on the 7th. This contrasts with the political atmosphere, where the Optimus scandal is being labeled as a 'power-related corruption' and fierce disputes continue daily. A prosecution official said in a phone call, "Many personnel are concentrating on investigating the case," adding, "We are also investigating Song Mo, an inside director whose arrest warrant was dismissed, and will decide gradually whether to reapply for the warrant."

Contrary to the prosecution's explanation, there are opinions in the legal community that the prosecution might be deliberately controlling the pace of the investigation or that the investigation team is deliberating over the direction of the probe. The background of these views is the considerable number of ruling party figures suspected of being directly or indirectly involved with Optimus. Some suspect that the slow pace of the prosecution's investigation is due to Lee Seong-yoon, the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, coordinating the investigation speed. There is a perspective that if the Central District Prosecutors' Office accelerates the investigation and summons ruling party figures related to the Optimus scandal, it might be considering the political repercussions that could arise.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, there is also speculation that when the Optimus investigation reaches a certain stage, there could be a clash between Prosecutor Lee and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over summonses or the issuance of arrest warrants for related parties. From the early stages of the prosecution's investigation, there has been analysis that the Optimus scandal, intricately connected with political and business circles, could escalate into a 'power gate.' Recently, attention has been drawn to the relationship between former Optimus CEO Lee Hyuk-jin and influential figures in the current administration. Lee was elected as a director of the South-North Economic and Cultural Cooperation Foundation (Gyeongmunhyeop) in March 2006, where he worked alongside former Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok, and lawmakers Song Young-gil and Woo Sang-ho. Lee denied these allegations in an interview with Yonhap News on the 11th in Saratoga, California, USA. He claimed, "I resigned as CEO in July 2017 and have since withdrawn from company management," and "I am a victim whose company was hijacked, and I have never handled billions of won."

After Lee stepped down, inside director Yoon Mo and Yoon's wife, lawyer Lee Mo, were identified as being directly or indirectly connected to the administration. The couple was listed among the legal professionals who supported candidate Moon Jae-in during the 2012 presidential election. Lawyer Lee worked as an administrative officer in the Blue House's Office of Civil Affairs from October last year until resigning last month. Additionally, the Optimus advisory group includes heavyweight figures such as former Deputy Prime Minister Lee Heon-jae and former Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook, attracting considerable attention.

The prosecution is currently limiting its investigation to the illegal fund management activities of Optimus. A prosecution official stated, "We are investigating only the fund fraud, not the surrounding related individuals." However, as suspicions of involvement by political and business circles continue to grow, the investigation could expand in other directions at any time.

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