Prosecutors Request Appearance of Secretary Lee Kwang-cheol Suspected of Involvement in 'Kim Hak-ui Case'

Kwang-chul Lee, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House (right) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The prosecution investigating the illegal travel ban allegations involving former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui is reported to have summoned Lee Gwang-cheol, the Blue House Secretary for Civil Affairs.

According to the legal community on the 14th, the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office investigation team (led by Lee Jeong-seop, Head of Criminal Division 3) issued a summons to Secretary Lee, who was a senior administrative officer at the Blue House Civil Affairs Office at the time of the incident.

Secretary Lee is suspected of being involved in the illegal travel ban process against former Deputy Minister Kim, along with Cha Gyu-geun, Director of the Immigration and Foreign Policy Headquarters at the Ministry of Justice, who was indicted on the 1st, and Lee Gyu-won, a prosecutor from the Past Affairs Investigation Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office at the time.

In particular, it is known that on the night of March 22, 2019, Secretary Lee learned that former Deputy Minister Kim was attempting to leave the country and contacted Director Cha, indicating that "this prosecutor will be contacted." He then contacted Prosecutor Lee and instructed him to "stop (former Deputy Minister Kim) from leaving the country as the Ministry of Justice has agreed."

Subsequently, Prosecutor Lee contacted Director Cha to discuss administrative measures for an emergency travel ban and blocked former Deputy Minister Kim's departure using documents containing false information. Director Cha then approved Prosecutor Lee's illegal travel ban request the following day, on the 23rd, according to the investigation team.

The investigation team believes that Secretary Lee played a key role in this case alongside Director Cha and Prosecutor Lee. If Secretary Lee is summoned for questioning, the investigation is expected to extend to higher levels within the Blue House. Meanwhile, the first trial for Director Cha and Prosecutor Lee is scheduled for the 7th of next month.

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