Prosecution Transfers Prosecutor Lee Gyuwon’s 'Yoon Joongchun Interview Report' Leak Allegation Case to Corruption Investigation Office

Kim Jin-wook, Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Gong-su-cheo), is discussing with a panel composed of journalists after delivering a keynote speech on the theme of "Democratic Republic and the Rule of Law" at the Kwanhoon Forum held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 25th of last month. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The prosecution, which has been investigating the defamation lawsuit related to Prosecutor Lee Gyuwon’s alleged leak of the 'Yoon Joong-chun Interview Report' to the media while working at the Past Truth Investigation Team of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, has transferred additional high-ranking public official crime cases involving Prosecutor Lee, identified during the investigation, to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).

Prosecutor Lee was previously transferred to the CIO for the illegal emergency travel ban charges related to former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, but the case was re-transferred to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office. Attention is now focused on what decision Kim Jin-wook, head of the CIO, will make this time.

On the 17th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Byun Pil-geon) transferred the high-ranking public official crime case involving Prosecutor Lee, which was recognized during the investigation of the defamation lawsuit filed by former Daegu High Prosecutor General Yoon Gap-geun against JTBC and others for reporting that construction businessman Yoon Joong-chun admitted to having a personal relationship with him and providing sexual favors to former Deputy Minister Kim.

A prosecution official stated, "During the investigation of the defamation lawsuit related to the Past Truth Investigation Team against Prosecutor A, we recognized 'high-ranking public official crimes' and notified the CIO yesterday. Today, we transferred the parts of Prosecutor A’s charges that fall under high-ranking public official crimes according to the CIO Act to the CIO."

During the investigation, the prosecution secured clues that a JTBC reporter directly received the 'Yoon Joong-chun Interview Report' from Prosecutor Lee through analysis of Prosecutor Lee’s mobile phone call records and testimonies from related parties.

The investigation team recently summoned Yoon as a witness for questioning and has reportedly completed investigations of the reporters who covered the articles, including former Prosecutor General Yoon.

In the case of the defamation charge filed by former Prosecutor General Yoon, it does not fall under high-ranking public official crimes according to the CIO Act and is therefore not subject to transfer to the CIO. During the investigation of Prosecutor Lee’s defamation charges, the prosecution additionally recognized charges such as official secrets leakage and violation of the Personal Information Protection Act related to the process of handing over documents to the media and has been investigating these.

Article 127 of the Criminal Act, which criminalizes official secrets leakage, is defined as a 'high-ranking public official crime' under Article 2, Clause 3, Subparagraph (a) of the CIO Act.

The remaining charges against Prosecutor Lee, including defamation, will continue to be investigated by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Although Prosecutor Lee’s high-ranking public official crime case has been transferred to the CIO, it is currently difficult for the CIO to immediately commence an investigation.

The CIO recently held a personnel committee and is conducting interviews for candidates for CIO prosecutors. More time is needed until the selection of prosecutors and investigators is completed and the organization is fully established.

Previously, Kim Jin-wook, head of the CIO, who had received the cases involving Prosecutor Lee and Seoul Central District Prosecutor Chief Lee Seong-yoon related to former Deputy Minister Kim, and then re-transferred them back to the prosecution, now faces the dilemma of whether to wait for the appointment of CIO prosecutors to conduct a direct investigation or to re-transfer the cases to the prosecution again.

At the plenary session of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee the day before, it was revealed that immediately after receiving the cases involving Prosecutor Lee and Prosecutor Chief Lee Seong-yoon, Kim met directly with Prosecutor Chief Lee at his request, sparking controversy.

Kim stated that he conducted a preliminary investigation but did not prepare an interrogation record or an interview report, only drafting an investigation report noting the time and attendees of the meeting, which was handed over to the prosecution, fueling suspicions.

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