Password of Late Park Won-soon's Mobile Phone Unlocked... But the Issue Is the 'Warrant'

Digital Forensics Initiated... Only Cause of Death Verification Possible
Court Denies Search Warrant Citing "Lack of Necessity"
Police Seek Breakthrough, Likely to Reapply After Supplementary Investigation

Kim Jae-ryeon, lead attorney at Law Firm On-Sesang (second from left), is speaking at the "Second Press Conference on the Sexual Violence Case by the Mayor of Seoul" held at a press conference room in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 22nd. From left, Gomi-kyung, executive director of Korea Women's Hotline; Attorney Kim; Song Ran-hee, secretary general of Korea Women's Hotline; Kim Hye-jung, deputy director of Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center; and Lee Mi-kyung, director of Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police have succeeded in unlocking the password of the work phone of the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, but how the information obtained will be used ultimately depends on the 'warrant.' Given that the police's warrant applications have been rejected twice, the data can only be used in a limited way to clarify the circumstances of the late former mayor Park's death. It cannot be used to uncover the core issues such as whether there was complicity in sexual harassment or the circumstances of the leak of the accusation. The police face the task of finding a breakthrough by reapplying for a warrant through securing additional evidence.

According to the police on the 23rd, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has unlocked the iPhone XS used by the late former mayor Park and is currently conducting digital forensic work. The password was reportedly obtained through the victim's legal representative, lawyer Kim Jae-ryun. This phone has been identified as the smoking gun related to the allegations in the late former mayor Park's case. It is expected to contain key information to clarify the truth, including sexual harassment-related content such as calls and messages with the victim, as well as who informed the victim about the accusation.

However, the current forensic investigation is limited to confirming the cause of death under the 'Regulations on Handling of Death Cases.' To examine other aspects, a court-issued search and seizure warrant or communication warrant is required, but the warrants applied for by the police were rejected twice by the court due to reasons such as 'lack of evidence to prove the charges' and 'lack of necessity for search and seizure.'

At this point, the police can rely on the evidence submitted by the victim's side and the statements from Seoul city officials who were interviewed as witnesses. Former Chief Secretary Ko Han-seok and Gender Special Advisor Lim Soon-young have already been questioned by the police. The police must analyze the materials submitted by the victim's side and secure meaningful testimony from witness investigations to capture related circumstances. If the police can prove the necessity of a compulsory investigation strong enough to overturn the court's rejection through such peripheral investigations, a reapplication for a search and seizure warrant for Seoul City Hall and the mobile phone may be made.

Ultimately, the speed of fact-finding appears to depend on how much the police show determination in investigating allegations such as complicity in sexual harassment. A police official said, "Once the digital forensic analysis is completed, we will secure the data through a selection process and continue the investigation," adding, "We will review whether to reapply for a search and seizure warrant through supplementary investigation."

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