Prosecutors Return After Training... Will the Corruption Investigation Office Accelerate Major Case Investigations?

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) is drawing attention as its prosecutors, having completed their investigative training and returned to duty, may accelerate investigations into major cases that had been stagnant.

According to the HCIC on the 27th, six prosecutors without prior investigative experience completed a four-week training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute and returned to work on the 25th. As a result, the HCIC is entering this week as a 'complete team.'

During the absence of the six prosecutors, the number of cases handled by the HCIC increased to nine. Many politically sensitive cases have also emerged. A representative case is the accusation against former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. HCIC Chief Kim Jin-wook has stated that the case has not yet been initiated and is still at the preliminary investigation stage. Attention is focused on whether the HCIC will begin a full-scale investigation this week.

Former Prosecutor General Yoon was accused by the Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice of two allegations. The charges include abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights. Yoon is suspected of failing to properly lead the investigation into the 'Optimus Fund Fraud' case while serving as the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office from 2018 to 2019. Additionally, he is suspected of obstructing the investigation into the prosecution's alleged witness tampering (coercing witnesses to give false testimony) during the case involving former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Prosecutor General Yoon is expected to declare his candidacy for the presidential election on the 29th. He will hold a press conference at the Yoon Bong-gil Memorial Hall. This development is burdensome for the HCIC, as it could spark controversy over political neutrality, making it difficult to expedite the investigation into Yoon. The longer time passes, the greater this burden may become. Since it is advantageous to proceed with the investigation as quickly as possible, Chief Kim is likely to make a decision this week.

The HCIC is expected to soon conclude the investigation into the first case, the allegation of improper special recruitment involving Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon. Compared to other cases, there has been progress through searches and summons of related parties. There is also a possibility that Superintendent Cho will be summoned for questioning. However, the HCIC cannot prosecute this case. If the charges are substantiated, the HCIC will request the prosecution to file charges; if not, it will decide not to prosecute.

The prosecution has expressed that it will not recognize the HCIC's priority decision-making authority, so controversy is inevitable regardless of the decision made.

The suspicion of false reporting in Prosecutor Lee Kyu-won's 'Yoon Joong-chun Interview Report' is also reportedly nearing conclusion. Prosecutor Lee has been summoned three times for investigation, and since the case was originally transferred from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, a considerable amount of investigation records have been secured. If the HCIC indicts Prosecutor Lee, it will be the HCIC's 'first indictment.'

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