The Corruption Investigation Office Ends Search of Rep. Kim Woong's Office... "Confirmed Non-Use of PCs by Rep. Kim's Secretarial Staff"

Prosecutors from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials entered the office of Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 13th to conduct a search and seizure. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC) completed the search and seizure at the office of Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, which resumed on the afternoon of the 13th, at around 5:40 PM.

The PCC confirmed the PC in Kim's office and stated that Kim's secretarial staff's PCs were not used by Kim himself. Unlike the previous occasion, this search and seizure was conducted under the observation of a lawyer after the PCC presented the search warrant, and there were no significant physical confrontations reported.

At around 2:35 PM, the PCC's Investigation Division 3 (Chief Prosecutor Choi Seok-gyu) sent 17 personnel, including prosecutors and investigators, to Kim's office on the 3rd floor of the Yeouido Members' Office Building to resume the search and seizure, which concluded at approximately 5:40 PM.

The PCC stated, "We checked the PC in Kim's office and confirmed that the secretarial staff's PCs were not used by Kim."

They added, "Regarding the secretarial staff's PCs, we only checked whether they were used by Kim, and upon confirming they were not, no further procedures were carried out."

This was the second attempt at search and seizure after the first attempt on the 10th was aborted following an 11-hour standoff due to opposition from the People Power Party. At that time, Kim's side claimed that the PCC's search procedures were illegal and raised issues over keyword searches such as 'Osu', 'Geonhee', 'Jokuk', and 'Miae'.

Kim was present inside his office at the start of the search. After the search began, there were some raised voices as party leaders including People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok and Policy Committee Chair Kim Do-eup entered Kim's office, but PCC investigators cleared the way, preventing any major clashes.

After PCC officials explained the search warrant execution procedures to Kim, People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Sang-beom said, "Since a new lawyer has been appointed, the search warrant must be presented to the lawyer," and added, "If the seized items are mutually confirmed and agreed upon, Kim is expected to comply according to due process."

The PCC is currently investigating former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and former Deputy Director of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Investigation Information Policy Division Son Jun-sung as suspects related to allegations of solicitation of prosecution.

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