Prosecutor General's Office Approves 'Lee Seong-yoon Indictment'... Investigation Team Plans Indictment on 12th

Seong-yoon Lee, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, is arriving at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu on the morning of the 10th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has approved the prosecution opinion reported by the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office investigation team regarding Lee Seong-yoon, the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who is suspected of exerting external pressure in the investigation of the 'Illegal Departure Ban Case of Former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui.'

According to the legal community on the 11th, Cho Nam-gwan, Acting Prosecutor General (Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office), accepted the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office investigation team's opinion to prosecute Lee.

The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office investigation team is reportedly planning to consolidate Lee's case with the already prosecuted cases of Prosecutor Lee Gyu-won and Cha Gyu-geun, Director of the Immigration Headquarters of the Ministry of Justice. Currently, the trials of Prosecutor Lee and Director Cha are underway at the Seoul Central District Court. If the cases are consolidated, Lee will also be tried at the Seoul Central District Court.

However, for the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office investigation team to participate in the trial held at the Seoul Central District Court, an 'Acting Prosecutor Appointment at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office' is required. The related appointment procedure is expected to be completed by the 12th.

Previously, Lee, while serving as the Head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in June 2019, is suspected of exerting external pressure to suppress the investigation by the Anyang Branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, which was about to start investigating illegal acts during the emergency departure ban process against former Deputy Minister Kim. Regarding this, Lee has denied the charges, stating that he reported all processes to then Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il.

The day before, the Prosecutorial Investigation Deliberation Committee (Investigation Deliberation Committee) recommended suspending the investigation of Lee and referring the case to trial. At that time, Lee took a half-day leave and attended the Investigation Deliberation Committee in person but failed to persuade the committee members.

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