Increasing Leak Paths of Park Won-soon Accusations... Will 'Keyman' Im Soon-young Speak Up?

Complex Scenarios of Leaked Lawsuit
Investigation Needed to Uncover... Im Sun-young's Testimony Is Crucial

Kim Jae-ryeon, representative lawyer of On-Sesang Law Firm, is speaking at the "2nd Press Conference on the Sexual Violence Case by the Mayor of Seoul" held at a location in downtown Seoul on the morning of the 22nd. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The number of institutions and individuals suspected of leaking the fact that the late Park Won-soon, former Mayor of Seoul, was accused is continuously increasing. Following the police, the Blue House, and civic groups, the prosecution has also become the center of suspicion. As the suspicion of leaking the accusation fact is becoming increasingly mysterious, it is expected that the investigation will ultimately reveal who first conveyed the accusation fact to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The Blue House, police, and women's organizations have denied leaking the accusation fact, and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office also issued a statement after it became known that they were aware of the suspicions related to the late Mayor Park in advance, stating that they neither reported the phone call details or the fact of receiving the accusation letter to higher authorities nor disclosed it externally.

Some media outlets reported the day before that the police identified a phone call between Nam In-soon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the late Mayor Park on the day of his disappearance, suggesting that Nam might have informed Park about the accusation during the call. Nam avoided a direct answer to reporters' questions related to this, saying, "I have nothing to say." A civic group also filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, alleging that Lee Sung-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, might have leaked the sexual harassment accusation against the late Mayor Park.

Since the leakage route has not yet been clearly revealed, the suspicion is expected to hinge on the testimony of Im Soon-young, Seoul City's Gender Special Advisor, who was identified as the first person to convey the accusation fact to the late Mayor Park.

Im previously stated in an interview with a media outlet that she heard from outside the Seoul Metropolitan Government that there was an unpleasant issue related to Mayor Park.

The police investigating the death of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon are expected to summon Im Soon-young, Seoul City's Special Gender Advisor, and other related personnel for questioning this week. On the 20th, reporters were waiting in front of the Seongbuk Police Station in Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

The police have already summoned and questioned Special Advisor Im once in connection with the investigation into the circumstances of the late Mayor Park's death. While additional investigations may be conducted if necessary, there is practically no way to compel her to testify since she is a witness. However, further summons and questioning may proceed through the investigation process into allegations of aiding and abetting sexual harassment by Seoul city officials.

Currently, the accusation leakage complaint case has also been assigned to the Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. The prosecution has not yet decided whether to conduct a direct investigation or to direct the police to investigate. The investigation targets are expected to include Special Advisor Im, the Seoul city political line, officials in the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the National Police Agency, and those in the reporting line up to the Blue House.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office has begun fact-finding regarding the controversy that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office refused the victim's side's request for an interview related to the sexual harassment by the late Mayor Park.

This fact was revealed during the second press conference held by the victim's side of the late Mayor Park. Lawyer Kim Jae-ryun, who represents the victim, disclosed at a press conference on the 22nd that they had considered filing a complaint with the prosecution before submitting it to the police. Lawyer Kim stated that on the 7th of this month, the day before submitting the complaint to the police, she requested an interview with Yoo Hyun-jung, Head of the Women and Children Crime Investigation Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. At that time, Chief Prosecutor Yoo told Lawyer Kim, "I will review and get back to you," but later called again the same day to say, "Due to scheduling and procedural reasons, a prior interview is difficult; if deemed necessary, please submit the complaint according to the procedure."

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