Speeding up 'Gongsoocheo 1st' Investigation... Jo Hee-yeon to Be Summoned Soon

Following the Search and Seizure, Related Individuals Are Being Summoned One After Another... Once Statements Are Secured, Superintendent Jo Is Expected to Be Summoned

The Investigation Division 2 of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (Gong-su-cheo) is conducting a search and seizure at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 18th regarding allegations of unfair special recruitment of dismissed teachers by Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. Reporters are waiting for the search and seizure to conclude. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC) is accelerating its investigation by consecutively summoning individuals related to Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon's alleged unfair special recruitment of dismissed teachers. Following a search and seizure, the collection of witness statements is also in its final stages, and Superintendent Cho's summons for questioning is imminent.

According to the legal community on the 31st, the PCC plans to soon investigate the then Director of Education Policy and the Director of Secondary Education, who were excluded from the approval line for opposing Superintendent Cho's special recruitment directive.

Superintendent Cho is accused of instructing personnel in the education office's HR team in July-August 2018 to specially recruit five dismissed teachers, including those from the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (JeonGyoJo), on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights.

The PCC conducted a search and seizure at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 18th and secured related materials. On the 27th and 28th, Mr. A, the then Chief Secretary involved in the special recruitment process, appeared at the PCC and observed the analysis of seized items. On the 28th, Mr. B, the former Head of the Secondary Personnel Team responsible for the overall practical work of the special recruitment, was summoned. The PCC reportedly questioned Mr. B about the selection of recruitment committee members who were acquaintances of Superintendent Cho and whether there was opposition from the staff at the time. Since Mr. A has already been summoned and digital forensic analysis of the seized items has been conducted, it is interpreted that investigations of surrounding persons are nearing completion.

The last remaining witnesses are the Director of Education Policy, the Director of Secondary Education, and the Deputy Superintendent, who opposed Superintendent Cho's directive along with Mr. B. At the time, they expressed the opinion that "it is unjust to proceed with special recruitment procedures by pre-designating former teachers who were lawfully retired due to violations," but Superintendent Cho excluded the directors and managers from the approval line, stating, "I will bear the political burden," and approved the special recruitment.

In the legal community, considering that investigations typically proceed to the main subject after search and seizure and investigations of surrounding persons, Superintendent Cho's summons for questioning is also expected to take place soon.

Superintendent Cho has also hired a lawyer to prepare a defense. Cho's side submitted a statement to the PCC asserting that "the case involving Superintendent Cho is not subject to PCC investigation and that the charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights do not apply," but expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation as much as possible.

In future investigations, Superintendent Cho is expected to argue the legitimacy of the special recruitment on the grounds that the reasons for the teachers' dismissal relate to political basic rights. Recently, through Facebook, Superintendent Cho stated, "If there is temporal legitimacy and educational validity to the special recruitment, I must not abandon the teachers," and added, "As an education superintendent, I am faithfully fulfilling this temporal mission and moral responsibility."

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