Park Beom-gye "Allegations of 'Report-for-Hire'... Prosecution and Corruption Investigation Office Must Cooperate Closely"

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Regarding the suspicion that the prosecution, during former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's tenure, instructed the opposition party to file complaints against pro-government figures, Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye emphasized the importance of close cooperation between the prosecution and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and called for collaboration between the two agencies.

On the afternoon of the 10th, Minister Park, while entering the Ministry of Justice Government Gwacheon Complex, told reporters, "The CIO has begun a full-scale investigation," and added, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has stated that it will conduct a thorough fact-finding investigation within the scope that does not overlap with the CIO's investigation."

That morning, the CIO's Investigation Division 3 (Chief Prosecutor Choi Seok-gyu) conducted a search and seizure targeting People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong and Son Joon-sung, the Human Rights Protection Officer at Daegu High Prosecutors' Office. The CIO had formally launched an investigation the previous day, registering Son on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of official duties, as well as leaking official secrets.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office also announced through a public notice that regarding the complaint instruction suspicion, "We plan to cooperate if requested by the CIO in the future," and "We intend to proceed with the fact-finding investigation according to procedures within the scope that does not overlap with the CIO's investigation."

Minister Park commented on the CIO's search and seizure, stating, "It is important that (Prosecutor Son) has been identified as a suspect and that multiple search warrants have been issued by the court."

He continued, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office's willingness and action toward a swift fact-finding are commendable," and noted that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office is also accelerating its fact-finding investigation. However, regarding whether the Supreme Prosecutors' Office will transition to a formal investigation or details of the fact-finding investigation, he refrained from commenting, saying, "It is difficult to confirm."

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