Prosecutor Son Junsung in 'Gobalsaju Suspicion' Appears at Public Corruption Investigation Office... Expected to be Investigated Until Late Afternoon

Son Joon-sung, the Human Rights Protection Officer at Daegu High Prosecutors' Office and a key figure in the 'whistleblowing solicitation' suspicion during former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's tenure, is attending the warrant hearing held on the 26th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyung-min, Kim Dae-hyun] The key figure in the so-called 'accusation inducement' scandal, Son Joon-sung, Human Rights Protection Officer at Daegu High Prosecutors' Office, appeared at the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HOCI) on the 2nd.

Son entered the HOCI through the back door around 10 a.m. in a black car, avoiding the press.

The investigation of Prosecutor Son, who was summoned as a suspect, is being conducted in secret. A HOCI official stated, "Without (Prosecutor Son's) consent, we cannot confirm anything," and refused to disclose the investigation schedule or details.

The investigation is expected to continue until late afternoon. This is the first time since HOCI began a full-scale investigation into the accusation inducement allegations that Prosecutor Son has been summoned for questioning, approximately two months after the investigation started in September.

Prosecutor Son has been highlighted as the key figure holding the key to revealing the allegations but had never been questioned until now. HOCI attempted to coordinate a schedule to investigate Prosecutor Son, but it was delayed due to the time taken for him to appoint legal counsel.

During the process where the arrest warrant and detention warrant requested by HOCI were consecutively rejected by the court, there was a dispute over 'delayed notification,' with both sides engaging in a war of nerves. The issue was that HOCI requested the detention warrant but notified Prosecutor Son's side late.

However, recently Prosecutor Son showed willingness to actively cooperate with the investigation, leading to the arrangement of today's questioning. It is also known that the investigation schedule was proposed to HOCI first by Prosecutor Son's side.

Prosecutor Son is accused of, while working as the Investigation Information Policy Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in April last year, instructing subordinate prosecutors to draft complaints and collect supporting evidence against ruling party figures, and conspiring with Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, to induce accusations.

Both sides are expected to engage in intense confrontations in the interrogation room today.

During today's questioning, HOCI is expected to press Prosecutor Son on his involvement in the case based on the fact that the Telegram message received by whistleblower Jo Sung-eun from Kim Woong was tagged with 'Sent by Son Joon-sung.' Prosecutor Son may also be questioned about the circumstances under which Prosecutor A, who worked with him around April last year, searched for a judgment document identical to the content attached to the Telegram message.

HOCI must create a turning point in clarifying the allegations through the investigation of Prosecutor Son. They need to establish conditions to reapply for a detention warrant for Prosecutor Son and also draft plans for investigating Kim Woong, who may be summoned this week. HOCI has faced concerns and criticism over inadequate investigation after the court rejected the detention warrant requested for Prosecutor Son on the 27th of last month.

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