Kim Woong, Suspected in 'Gobal Saju' Case, Appears at Corruption Investigation Office... Delivers Resolute Statements

Attention on Whether Higher-Ups and Complainant Who Directed 'Complaint Letter Drafting' Will Be Identified

On the morning of the 3rd, Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, is entering the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division at the Government Complex Gwacheon to be investigated as a suspect in the 'alleged prosecution solicitation' case.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Choi Seok-jin, legal affairs specialist, and Kim Hyung-min] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (HOCID), investigating the 'accusation solicitation' allegations, summoned Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, as a suspect on the 3rd for questioning.

Kim is suspected of conspiring with former Deputy Director of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Investigation Information Policy Division Son Joon-sung last April, ahead of the general election, to solicit accusations against figures in the ruling party on two occasions.

Arriving at the HOCID office in the Government Complex Gwacheon at around 9:44 a.m. that day, Kim expressed his dissatisfaction with the HOCID investigation as if he had made up his mind.

He said, "Before the HOCID was launched, I mentioned that if it were established, it would become a Yoon Seok-yeol investigation office, and that is actually happening. Looking at the investigation process now, official secrets are continuously being leaked, and the disclosure of suspect facts is happening almost daily."

Kim pointed out, "Not only are such behaviors occurring, but there are even talks about summoning aligned with the opposition party's presidential candidate primaries. When the Democratic Party ordered forced investigations, pre-modern incidents such as immediate requests for arrest warrants have been repeated."

He continued, "In fact, the repeated requests for arrest warrants for people whose detention warrants were dismissed are precisely what makes one question whether this investigation is genuinely to uncover the truth or if it is an election interference case using the HOCID, similar to the past Ulsan mayoral election interference incident. I believe the public will clearly judge this."

When asked by reporters, "Who are the 'we' mentioned in the recording?" Kim responded, "'If 'we' is considered evidence, then 'the date our director wants' would be decisive evidence. However, no investigation is being conducted on that part," criticizing the fairness of the investigation into National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won's and Mr. Cho's 'tip solicitation' allegations. He added, "In my view, the accusation solicitation has no substance at all."

Earlier, the HOCID requested an arrest warrant for former policy officer Son last month on charges including abuse of authority, violation of the Public Official Election Act, disclosure of official secrets, and violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, naming Kim as an accomplice.

As HOCID Chief Kim Jin-wook revealed, the core of this investigation is the abuse of authority charge. At the time of the incident, Kim was a candidate for the Future United Party in the general election and was not a public official, so punishment is possible only if a conspiracy relationship with former policy officer Son, who is suspected of directing the preparation of the accusation letter and searching the verdict of whistleblower Ji Mo in the 'media collusion' case, is proven.

Based on the whistleblower Cho Seong-eun, who received the accusation letter from Kim, and the recorded phone calls between Kim and Cho, the HOCID is expected to question who the 'we' Kim mentioned as the author of the accusation letter refers to, who designated the institution to receive the accusation letter, and whether there is any connection with former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol.

The HOCID believes that at the time, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Investigation Information Policy Division and the spokesperson's office planned accusations through the opposition party as a countermeasure against the ruling party's attacks on former Prosecutor General Yoon related to his mother-in-law's case and the 'Channel A coercion attempt' case.

Meanwhile, the day before, the HOCID summoned former policy officer Son and conducted an intensive 13-hour investigation.

During the warrant hearing, Son explained that the 'Sent by Son Joon-sung' message on the Telegram screen in the reference materials he gave to Cho was a return of materials received from a complainant. It is known that Son denied most charges during the HOCID investigation as well.

Whether the HOCID, which listed the superiors who ordered the preparation of the accusation letter and the author of the accusation letter as unknown when requesting Son's arrest warrant, can identify them through summons investigations of Son and Kim will likely determine the success of this investigation.

Having lost face with the dismissal of its first requested arrest warrant since its launch, the HOCID cannot avoid reapplying for an arrest warrant for former policy officer Son. However, if the warrant is dismissed again, the entire investigation will inevitably face setbacks. Therefore, it is highly likely that the HOCID will secure sufficient evidence to prove the charges through additional investigations of Son or confrontation investigations of key suspects before attempting to secure custody again.

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