Retired Colonel Alleging 'Choo Mi-ae Son Military Position Favoritism' Referred with Indictment Recommendation

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] Retired Colonel Lee Cheol-won, former commander of the Korea Support Group of the United States Forces Korea, who mentioned that he received a request for unit assignment on behalf of Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son, Seo, has been referred to the prosecution with an indictment opinion.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Intelligent Crime Investigation Unit announced on the 3rd that it had sent retired Colonel Lee Cheol-won, who is accused of defamation, to the prosecution last month with an indictment opinion. SBS, which was also reported together, was sent with a non-prosecution opinion. The police judged that the charges against retired Colonel Lee were recognized after comprehensively considering the investigation contents of related parties and the statement from Lee's side.

Seo's side had filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in September against SBS and retired Colonel Lee on charges of defamation by false facts.

Earlier, SBS reported, citing a phone call recording between National Assembly member Shin Won-sik of the People Power Party and retired Colonel Lee, that there was a request related to unit assignment during Minister Choo's son Seo's military service.

The recorded phone call included retired Colonel Lee's statements such as, "When Choo Mi-ae's son came to KATUSA, I did not accept any of the pressures that came in from the initial classification, including during the Winter Olympics," and "I personally sat down with Professor Seo, Choo Mi-ae's husband, and Choo Mi-ae's mother-in-law and gave a 40-minute lecture not to make any requests." When controversy arose, the retired colonel also explained that the time and place where he met with Minister Choo's family was "after the completion ceremony of basic training at a restaurant."

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