How is the investigation into Chu Mi-ae's son's 'unit assignment and interpreter selection request' proceeding?

Signs of Inadequate Investigation and Turbulent Political Situation Announced
Supreme Prosecutors' Office Ignores 'Supplementary Investigation' Opinion
Six Pending Criminal Complaints Still Under Investigation
Minister Chu Seizes Control of Prosecution Through Personnel Appointments

On the 14th, Choo Mi-ae, Minister of Justice, attended the political sector interpellation session held at the National Assembly plenary chamber and responded to the questions from the lawmakers.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, which is investigating allegations related to the military service of Chu Mi-ae, Minister of Justice, and her son Seo Mo (27), has announced investigation results dismissing all charges against Minister Chu, Seo, and a former aide regarding Seo's alleged "failure to return from leave." Attention is now focused on the ongoing investigations into remaining cases, such as allegations of Seo's preferential selection as an interpreter.

In particular, concerns are rising that the remaining cases related to Minister Chu may also conclude with no charges, without uncovering the substantive truth, given the various signs of inadequate investigation shown by the prosecution during this inquiry, the timing of the investigation announcement amid political turmoil caused by North Korea's shooting incident, and the disregard of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's opinion led by Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol calling for supplementary investigation.

Six Cases Under Investigation Including Violations of the Anti-Graft Act and Political Funds Act

According to the prosecution on the 29th, in addition to the cases concluded as "no charges" the previous day, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office is conducting investigations into a total of six reported cases involving Seo's unit assignment and interpreter selection requests, as well as allegations against Minister Chu including violations of the Political Funds Act and fraud.

The suspicion regarding Seo's unit assignment, which surfaced after People Power Party lawmaker Shin Won-sik released a recording of Colonel A, then commander of the U.S. 8th Army Korea Support Group, alleges that there was a request to assign Seo to Yongsan. Additionally, investigations are underway into allegations that multiple requests were made through the Ministry of National Defense under then-Minister Song Young-moo and the National Assembly liaison group to have Seo selected as an interpreter for the 2017 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, while Seo was serving in the KATUSA unit.

Moreover, investigations are ongoing into allegations that Minister Chu used sponsorship funds at a restaurant operated by her daughter and that political funds were spent at a restaurant near the training camp on the day of Seo's graduation ceremony.

However, during the investigation into the "failure to return from leave" allegations announced the previous day, the prosecution appeared to conduct a belated search and seizure, then quickly dismissed charges against Minister Chu and others despite the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's opinion that supplementary investigation was necessary. This has led to skepticism about expecting significant results from investigations into the remaining cases.

A current chief prosecutor, Mr. A, expressed concern, saying, "Personnel matters are everything, but there is no organization more sensitive to personnel than the prosecution. As long as those in charge of personnel appoint people they consider allies to key positions and receive favorable investigations in return, a vicious cycle will repeat, making prosecution reform unattainable."

Minister Chu Controls the Prosecution Through Personnel... Prosecution Not Obedient to the Prosecutor General's Orders

After taking office, Minister Chu, under the pretext of "favoring those from the criminal division," sidelined senior officials trusted by Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and frontline prosecutors to less important positions in two rounds of personnel reshuffles, while appointing many prosecutors favorable to the current administration to key posts.

Even the senior officials at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, who should coordinate with Prosecutor General Yoon, are mostly filled with Minister Chu's appointees.

Kim Kwan-jung, head of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, who led the investigation into Minister Chu's allegations, is also known to have opposed Prosecutor General Yoon and supported Minister Chu since his time as head of the criminal division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Given this situation, although there were disagreements within the Supreme Prosecutors' Office regarding the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office's announcement of investigation results the previous day, it is reported that Chief Prosecutor Kim did not accept them. Lee Jong-geun, head of the criminal division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office who oversees major investigations reported by frontline prosecutors, and Cho Nam-gwan, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's number two, are both prosecutors promoted by Minister Chu.

Current prosecutors believe that Prosecutor General Yoon's influence over major investigations is inevitably weakening.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the civic group "Action Alliance for Establishing the Rule of Law" filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office against Minister Chu, accusing her of obstruction of official duties by deception and violations of the Telecommunications Basic Act for making false statements during the confirmation hearing and in the National Assembly.

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