Prosecutors Conduct First Complainant Investigation in 'Park Won-soon Allegation Leak' Case

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The prosecution summoned representatives of civic groups as complainants to investigate allegations of leaking the sexual harassment accusation against the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.

On the 2nd, according to civic groups Halbindan and the Action Alliance for Establishing the Rule of Law (Beopse-ryeon), the Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jong-hwa) summoned Halbindan representative Hong Jeong-sik and Beopse-ryeon representative Lee Jong-bae as complainants for questioning in the afternoon.

Before appearing at the prosecution, Representative Hong held a press conference in front of the Northern District Prosecutors' Office and stated, "This case is a serious criminal act that gave the related persons who conveyed the accusation to the late Mayor Park the opportunity to destroy evidence, threaten, and coax the victim, ultimately leading to the death of former Mayor Park."

Representative Lee also issued a statement before his appearance, saying, "Regardless of which of the three institutions?Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, the Blue House, or the police?was responsible for leaking the accusation, this is a serious matter that undermines the national flag. It is possible that one institution leaked it, or that two to three institutions were involved, so a thorough investigation is required."

Earlier, on July 15, Beopse-ryeon filed a complaint with the prosecution against the Blue House and prosecution and police officials for breach of official secrets. Civic group Halbindan and the Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea also filed a complaint on the 21st of last month against Lee Seong-yoon, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Kim Wook-jun, 4th Deputy Chief Prosecutor, and Yoo Hyun-jung, head of the Women and Children Crime Investigation Department, at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office for breach of official secrets. These five complaints, including this case, were initially assigned to the Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office but were later transferred to the Northern District Prosecutors' Office.

Previously, the sexual harassment victim of the late former Mayor Park had called Deputy Chief Prosecutor Yoo in July to disclose plans to file a complaint against the late Mayor Park and requested a meeting. Deputy Chief Prosecutor Yoo judged that a lawyer meeting before the complaint submission was inappropriate, so the meeting did not take place. The very next day, the victim filed a complaint against the late Mayor Park with the police, not the prosecution. When this fact was revealed through the victim's press conference, suspicions arose that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which knew about the accusation before the police complaint, leaked related information.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office denied the allegations, stating that there was no reporting or disclosure of the victim's representative's call with Deputy Chief Prosecutor Yoo or the receipt of the complaint from the police to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office or any external party.

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