Hanbyun "Corruption Investigation Office Lawyers Subject to Wiretapping... Pursuing State Compensation Lawsuit"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The conservative-leaning lawyer group, Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea (Hanbyeon), announced that it is pursuing a state compensation lawsuit, claiming that its affiliated lawyers had their communication records accessed by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (Gongsoocheo).

On the 12th, Hanbyeon stated, "It has been revealed that Gongsoocheo recently conducted widespread illegal surveillance targeting journalists critical of the current administration, opposition politicians, and ordinary citizens."

According to Hanbyeon, Gongsoocheo also accessed the communication records of many lawyers affiliated with Hanbyeon. Accordingly, Hanbyeon decided to conduct a full investigation of its affiliated lawyers. So far, three Hanbyeon-affiliated lawyers have had their communication records accessed by Gongsoocheo, including lawyer Park Juhyun, who is representing a lawsuit to suspend the enforcement of the quarantine pass. However, Gongsoocheo accessed Park's communication data in August of last year, which appears unrelated to the suspension lawsuit.

Recently, it was revealed that Gongsoocheo accessed the communication data of about 200 individuals, including journalists, politicians, legal professionals, as well as their family members, fans, and acquaintances, sparking a 'surveillance controversy.' Gongsoocheo maintains that the access was conducted through lawful procedures for investigative purposes.

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