The Corruption Investigation Office Demands Prosecution in the 'Jo Hee-yeon Case'... Closing Its First Case

Investigation Ends After 4 Months... Prosecutors to Decide Final Indictment of Superintendent Cho

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) has requested the prosecution to indict Cho Hee-yeon, the Superintendent of Education of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, who is involved in the controversy over the special hiring of dismissed teachers. This is the investigative conclusion reached four months after the HCIA launched its first case.

On the 3rd, the HCIA announced that it requested the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office to prosecute Superintendent Cho and his chief secretary Mr. A on charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights in connection with the investigation into the special hiring allegations of dismissed teachers.

Superintendent Cho is accused of being involved in the improper special hiring of five dismissed teachers in 2018 (charges of abuse of authority and violation of the State Public Officials Act). There are also suspicions that the public officials in charge of hiring were excluded from the process.

After registering this case as its first case in April, the HCIA concluded through direct investigation that it would request prosecution. This conclusion was based on results from the seizure and search of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education since May, witness investigations, additional indictment of Mr. A, and the summons and questioning of Superintendent Cho.

In its announcement, the HCIA judged that the suspects, including Superintendent Cho, were found to have obstructed the exercise of rights of the officials responsible during the hiring process. In particular, regarding the claim that Superintendent Cho was unaware of recommending the screening committee members and did not influence them, the investigation team, the Red Team, and the Prosecution Review Committee concluded that the suspect did indeed exert improper influence over teacher appointments.

The final decision on whether to indict Superintendent Cho will be made by the prosecution. According to the HCIA Act, the HCIA can only investigate Superintendent Cho’s case but does not have the authority to prosecute. The HCIA’s authority to both investigate and prosecute ‘high-ranking official crimes’ is limited to cases involving judges, prosecutors, and police officers of rank superintendent or higher.

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