The Corruption Investigation Office Goes Fully Remote Due to COVID-19 Cases... What Is the Conclusion of the Yoon Investigation?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which reported a confirmed COVID-19 case, will have all employees working from home again this week. As a result, it is expected that the major investigations the CIO is focusing on will also be affected.

In particular, the legal community is closely watching the direction of investigations surrounding Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party. Some predict that certain cases may be wrapped up within this week.

According to the legal community on the 9th, one CIO employee tested positive for COVID-19, leading to all staff working remotely since the 7th. The scheduled opening ceremony and the first prosecutor meeting of the new year were also postponed.

The CIO, already facing a busy schedule amid various controversies, has been hampered by COVID-19. Following the controversy over 'telecommunication surveillance' due to mass inquiries into communication records, there has also been criticism that a search and seizure conducted during the investigation of the 'leak of the indictment by Lee Seong-yoon, Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Chief' was illegal. Those involved in this case have filed successive injunctions with the court requesting the cancellation of the search and seizure, intensifying the controversy.

The CIO needs a breakthrough. It is known that they plan to wrap up some of the ongoing investigations first. Some cases in which candidate Yoon is registered as a suspect are also expected to be concluded. Yoon has been registered in connection with four allegations: 'accusation instigation', 'preparation of judge surveillance documents', 'obstruction of investigation and perjury coaching related to the investigation team of former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook', and 'inadequate investigation of the Optimus fund'.

The CIO is expected to prioritize concluding the cases related to former Prime Minister Han and the Optimus fund. It is reported that the CIO has begun reviewing these cases. Although these allegations have been investigated since June last year, no clear results have been produced. Candidate Yoon has only undergone written questioning. Accordingly, the legal community largely predicts that these cases will end with a 'non-prosecution' disposition.

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