Investigation into the Ministry of Industry Blacklist, Why... Pro-Government Prosecutors Going Their Own Way (Comprehensive)

Simultaneous Investigations into Government Allegations and Large Corporations
Criticism of Erasing Government Colors and Displaying Power
Accusations of Political Timing During Regime Change
Survival Signal Sent to Yoon
Kim Oh-soo Shows Determination for a Drive on Accountability

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyung-min, Heo Kyung-jun, Jang Se-hee] Various analyses are emerging regarding the background of the prosecution's simultaneous investigations into alleged misconduct by the Moon Jae-in administration and large corporations immediately after the presidential election.

On the 29th, in legal circles, the prevailing view is that the 'Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy blacklist allegation investigation,' which involved forced searches over consecutive days, is an effort to erase the current administration's influence, while the 'Samsung Welstory unfair support allegation investigation' is aimed at asserting the prosecution's presence.

◆ Choi Hyung-won and Go Jin-won’s ‘Survival Signal’

The investigation into the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy blacklist allegations by the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Choi Hyung-won) is being viewed as a ‘wait-and-see’ investigation following the regime change. The Eastern District Prosecutors' Office explained that they considered the Supreme Court's final ruling in January on the similar ‘Ministry of Environment blacklist case,’ but this explanation lacks persuasiveness. If the investigation was initiated based on the outcome of the Ministry of Environment case, the investigation should have started immediately after the Supreme Court ruling, but it began two months later. Considering that the statute of limitations for the main charge in this case, ‘abuse of authority,’ is relatively long at seven years, the dominant view is that the decision was made after observing the presidential election results.

Chief Prosecutor Choi Hyung-won, who is leading the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy blacklist investigation, is a junior alumnus of Gwangju Daedong High School to Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo and was in charge of investigating allegations of support for Cobana Contents by Kim Geon-hee, wife of President-elect Yoon Seok-youl, at the Special Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office until last year. There are rumors in prosecution circles that Chief Prosecutor Choi's strong will played a significant role in initiating this investigation.

The Samsung Welstory investigation by the Fair Trade Investigation Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Go Jin-won) is widely regarded as an attempt to showcase the prosecution's presence by resolving an unsolved case. It is analyzed that the prosecution launched large-scale searches because they secured a certain level of investigative materials, and since proving the charges is not easy, the success of the investigation depends on the evidence held by the investigation team.

On the morning of the same day, the prosecution conducted searches at Samsung Welstory headquarters in Bundang, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, and Samsung Electronics headquarters in Suwon City. The day before, the prosecution also conducted an 11-hour search targeting Samsung Welstory’s finance and accounting departments. Some analysts suggest that these investigations are a kind of ‘survival signal’ sent by prosecutors classified as ‘pro-government’ within the prosecution to President-elect Yoon Seok-youl.

Lee Jeong-su, the newly appointed Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, is arriving at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyeong aymsdream@

◆ Pro-government Lee Jung-soo and Shim Woo-jung at a Crossroads

The individuals who led the searches in both cases are Lee Jung-soo, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Shim Woo-jung, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. Both were appointed to key positions within the prosecution during the current administration and are evaluated as having contributed to the government’s control over the prosecution. Lee, a junior alumnus of Namgang High School like Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye, held major posts such as Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice and Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office after Park’s appointment, consecutively occupying the prosecution’s ‘Big Four’ positions. Shim served as Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Justice from the time of former Minister Chu Mi-ae through Park’s tenure, assisting closely. Lee is regarded as a relatively rational figure compared to other pro-government prosecutors, and although Shim is somewhat ambiguously classified as pro-government due to his recognized competence since the Park Geun-hye administration, it is clear that both will have to consider their positions once the regime changes.

There is speculation that Lee’s decision to conduct searches nine months after the complaint and Shim’s sudden search in a case that had been dormant for three years since the January 2019 complaint by the Liberty Korea Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) reflects political calculations to assert their presence. The case has been criticized by business and legal circles as an ‘excessive investigation without clear evidence or circumstances.’

The Eastern District Prosecutors' Office’s focus is directed at figures associated with the ruling party. The office has received cases involving ▲ the Blue House special inspection team’s blacklist of 330 public institutions ▲ the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s public institution blacklist ▲ the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Science and ICT ▲ the Ministry of Unification ▲ and the Ministry of Education’s public institution blacklist. The accused in these cases include former Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Cho Kuk, former Blue House Anti-Corruption Secretary Park Hyung-chul, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Kim Oh-soo Turns Away... Lee Sung-yoon, Shim Jae-cheol Remain Out of Sight

Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo showed active support for President-elect Yoon’s campaign promises, such as the ‘abolition of ministerial investigation command authority,’ during the transition committee’s briefing sessions. He is widely seen as having become estranged from the current administration and Minister Park. This investigation is interpreted as a strategic move to demonstrate that he can lead a strong anti-corruption drive that will begin after Yoon’s inauguration, thereby securing his remaining term. In contrast, Lee Sung-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, Shim Jae-cheol, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, and Shin Sung-sik, Chief Prosecutor of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, all with strong pro-government leanings, have remained out of the public eye. Although a plan to effectively revive the Securities Crime Joint Investigation Team at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office was reported to the Presidential Transition Committee, the Southern District Prosecutors' Office, led by Shim, has shown no movement. Shin, who is in charge of the Seongnam FC investigation involving Democratic Party senior adviser and former presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, appears to have stepped back after directing supplementary investigations. Due to the nature of the High Prosecutors' Office, which does not conduct direct investigations, Lee is currently observing the situation.

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