Prosecutors Say "Difficult to Accept Investigation Deliberation Committee's Decision Regarding Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon"

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-dong, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The prosecution investigating the allegations of ‘collusion between prosecutors and media’ expressed on the 24th that it is “difficult to accept” the decision of the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee to recommend ‘suspension of investigation and non-prosecution’ for Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office stated immediately after the committee’s decision, “Considering the fact that we have not yet begun forensic analysis of the mobile phone seized from Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon and have not completed even one interrogation of the suspect, despite expressing the opinion to ‘continue the investigation,’ it is difficult to accept the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee’s resolution today to recommend suspension of investigation and non-prosecution.”

It added, “The investigation team will comprehensively consider the investigation details so far, the court’s rationale for issuing an arrest warrant for reporter Lee Dong-jae, and the deliberation opinions of the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee to decide the future direction of the investigation and handling.”

At the current issues committee meeting held from 2 p.m. at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul, the committee members listened sequentially to the opinions of former VIK CEO Lee Cheol’s side, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office investigation team, former reporter Lee, and Prosecutor General Han, then after discussion, resolved to recommend ‘continuation of investigation and prosecution’ for former reporter Lee and ‘suspension of investigation and non-prosecution’ for Prosecutor General Han.

According to the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee, in the vote conducted with all 15 current issues committee members present except Chairman Yang Chang-soo, 10 members voted for suspension of investigation and 11 members voted for non-prosecution regarding Prosecutor General Han.

Following the committee’s decision, the prosecution, which had intended to indict former Prosecutor Han based on the frame of ‘collusion between prosecutors and media,’ judging that Prosecutor Han conspired with former reporter Lee to threaten former VIK CEO Lee Cheol to obtain misconduct information about Chairman Yoo Si-min of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation and others, now faces a situation where it must reconsider the direction of the investigation.

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