Prosecution Service Launches Simultaneous Investigation into 'Gobal Saju' and 'Jebo Saju' Allegations

Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, Booked... Investigation Launched into 'Tip-off Manipulation' Allegations
Yeowoon-guk Reappointed as Deputy Chief Prosecutor for the 'Accusation Manipulation' Case
Search and Seizure Conducted at Assemblyman Jeong Jeom-sik's Office

From the left, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, whistleblower Jo Seong-eun of the 'suspicion of report solicitation', and Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) has launched a simultaneous investigation into the allegations of 'report solicitation' involving former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and the 'tip solicitation' allegations involving Park Ji-won, the Director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

Both allegations?the opposition party's leading presidential candidate's abuse of prosecutorial power (report solicitation) and the NIS's interference in the presidential election (tip solicitation)?carry explosive potential that could determine the outcome of this presidential election, drawing attention to the intensity and speed of HCIC's investigation into both cases.

According to the HCIC on the 6th, the agency registered Director Park as a suspect yesterday in connection with the 'tip solicitation' allegations reported by the People Power Party and assigned the case to Investigation Division 2.

Earlier, on the 13th of last month, Yoon’s side filed a complaint with the HCIC, claiming that Park Ji-won, whistleblower Jo Seong-eun, and an unidentified individual who accompanied them during their meeting conspired to provide tips to media outlets regarding the report solicitation allegations.

After the complaint was received, there was speculation that the HCIC might transfer the case to the prosecution or police due to delays in deciding whether to conduct a direct investigation, but the HCIC ultimately decided to investigate directly.

It appears that the HCIC considered the risk of being embroiled in disputes over 'political neutrality' from opposition parties if it avoided investigating the 'tip solicitation' allegations, which are the flip side of the 'report solicitation' allegations. Additionally, the recent reinforcement of investigative personnel through the recruitment of more prosecutors is also believed to have enabled this decision.

The core of the 'tip solicitation' allegations lies in the connection between the meeting of whistleblower Jo and Director Park and the tip-off related to the 'report solicitation' allegations. Regarding this, Jo, who has consistently denied any consultation with Director Park, stated in an interview with a broadcasting company last month, “The date of September 2nd (as reported by News Bus) was neither desired by our director nor by me, nor was it a date we discussed or agreed upon,” which has intensified suspicions.

Moreover, it has come to light that just before meeting Director Park, Jo downloaded or captured about 100 image files with an automatically generated phrase ‘Sent by Son Jun-sung’ in a Telegram chatroom with Assemblyman Kim, raising doubts about the possibility that Jo coordinated the timing or content of the report with Director Park.

If it is proven that the NIS Director, who is prohibited from domestic political involvement, was involved in providing information about the opposition party’s leading presidential candidate’s misconduct to the media and investigative agencies, an uncontrollable backlash is expected.

Meanwhile, the HCIC is also intensifying its investigation into the 'report solicitation' allegations.

The HCIC reassigned the lead prosecutor of this case, previously handled by the head prosecutor of Investigation Division 3, to Deputy Chief Prosecutor Yeo Woon-guk. Additionally, Prosecutor Yeo Sang-gyun of the Case Analysis and Investigation Office was appointed as the main prosecutor.

The HCIC announced that Deputy Chief Prosecutor Yeo, a former judge, will oversee both the 'report solicitation' and 'tip solicitation' cases.

Within legal circles, there is a prevailing view that it will be difficult to uncover the substantive truth in both cases.

Regarding the 'report solicitation' allegations, unless it is revealed that former Prosecutor General Yoon was directly involved or at least informed and aware, even if it is confirmed that complaint documents were exchanged between Son Jun-sung, former head of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s Investigation and Policy Division, who has a personal friendship with Yoon, and Assemblyman Kim Woong of the People Power Party, Yoon would not bear legal responsibility beyond moral accountability.

Similarly, for the 'tip solicitation' allegations, even if there is substance to the claims, it is widely expected that it will be difficult to prove through evidence any secret conversations or provision of materials exchanged between Jo and Director Park.

For now, confirming whether a third party was present at the meal between the two and, if so, identifying that individual is expected to be the first step in the investigation.

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