The Legislation and Judiciary Committee Holds the First National Audit of the Corruption Investigation Office Today... Focus Likely on 'Gobal Saju' and 'Jebo Saju' Related Inquiries

Director Kim Jin-wook of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist Reporter] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC), launched earlier this year, will undergo its first parliamentary audit on the 12th.

Members from both ruling and opposition parties are expected to flood the HCIC with questions regarding the ongoing investigations into the ‘complaint solicitation’ allegations and the ‘tip solicitation’ allegations, urging a swift and strict investigation.

The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee will conduct the parliamentary audit of the HCIC at the National Assembly starting from 2 p.m. on the same day.

During the first parliamentary audit of the HCIC, the ruling party is expected to focus on the ‘complaint solicitation’ allegations involving former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, while the opposition party will concentrate on the ‘tip solicitation’ allegations involving National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won and whistleblower Jo Seong-eun.

In particular, ruling party members are anticipated to criticize the fact that despite considerable time having passed since the complaint was filed and the HCIC began its investigation, key figures such as former Deputy Director of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Investigation Information Policy Division Son Jun-sung and People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong have not yet been summoned for questioning, urging the HCIC to proceed with a prompt investigation.

Additionally, ruling party members are expected to question the HCIC for registering and investigating Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon’s ‘special hiring of dismissed teachers’ case as its first case and subsequently transferring it to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment. Opposition members are likely to criticize the ‘emperor investigation’ controversy, where Seoul High Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon allegedly used the official vehicle of HCIC Chief Kim Jin-wook to escort him while serving as the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Committee members are also expected to raise concerns about the HCIC’s lack of active investigation into the ‘Daejang-dong Development Project preferential treatment’ allegations, which have emerged as a major issue in the presidential election landscape.

At the time of the Daejang-dong development project, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung was serving as the mayor of Seongnam City, and under the current HCIC law, the mayor of Seongnam City is not included among the high-ranking officials subject to HCIC investigation. However, several legal professionals and politicians who could be subject to HCIC investigation, such as former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il, former Prosecutor General Kim Soo-nam, former Special Prosecutor Park Young-soo, and lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, have appeared in connection with the Daejang-dong allegations, making it possible for the HCIC to conduct investigations.

Meanwhile, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee will conduct a parliamentary audit of the Constitutional Court starting at 10 a.m. on the same day.

During the Constitutional Court audit, a fierce debate is expected between ruling and opposition members over the impeachment trial request case concerning former Busan High Court Chief Judge Im Seong-geun, which is currently under review by the Constitutional Court.

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