Handonghun Requests Seoul High Prosecutors' Office to Confirm False Claims of 'Physical Obstruction' by Central District Prosecutors' Office in Inspection

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Han Dong-hoon, Chief Prosecutor (47, 27th Judicial Research and Training Institute) under investigation for the 'alleged collusion between prosecutors and media,' has requested an internal investigation, claiming that the prosecution spread false information regarding the physical altercation that occurred at the scene of the search and seizure.

Han's legal representative stated on the 31st, "Han requested the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office to verify whether the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's public relations officer's claim that Han physically obstructed the investigation constitutes defamation due to the dissemination of false information."

As the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office conducts an internal investigation against Jung Jin-woong, Chief Prosecutor of the Criminal Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (52, 29th Judicial Research and Training Institute), who leads the investigation team into the alleged collusion, they are also verifying the circumstances under which the public relations statement was made and have asked that if defamation is suspected, the case be transferred to a formal investigation.

Han's side filed a complaint against Chief Prosecutor Jung for abuse of authority and submitted a request for an internal investigation to the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office immediately after the physical altercation on the 29th.

Prior to this, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated, "Due to the physical obstruction by the subject of the search, the responsible chief prosecutor fell and is currently receiving medical treatment."

In a personal statement released the same day, Chief Prosecutor Jung denied the abuse of authority charge, saying, "It was merely a process of effectively securing the items subject to seizure while restraining acts of refusal to comply with the seizure."

Although Jung said he would file a complaint against Han for false accusation and defamation, he did not disclose how Han physically obstructed the investigation.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office took a step back the following day, stating, "Upon review, it appears that the elements constituting the charge of obstruction of official duties are not met."

Chief Prosecutor Jung reported that he experienced pain in his arms and legs and general muscle pain at the time, visited a nearby orthopedic clinic, but due to a sudden spike in blood pressure, he received treatment at the emergency room of a general hospital. It is known that Jung underwent a COVID-19 test and waited at the hospital before being discharged.

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