'Investigation for Abuse of Authority' Jeon Hyun-hee Defends Herself: "Are Han Dong-hoon and Lee Sang-min Also in Conflict of Interest?"

Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Son Seon-hee] Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, who is under police investigation for abuse of authority, strongly defended herself on the 13th, stating, "From the Board of Audit and Inspection's perspective, Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, whose child is also under police investigation and who himself is under police investigation as a complainant, is a conflict of interest, just like former Minister Chu Mi-ae. By the same logic, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who is under police investigation as a suspect, should also be considered a conflict of interest."

On the same day, Chairperson Jeon posted on her social media, asserting, "For a conflict of interest to be established, two conditions must be met: the status of a 'private interested party' and 'relevance to official duties'." She explained that while investigations related to the children or spouses of Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, and former Ministers of Justice Cho Kuk and Chu Mi-ae acknowledge the status of 'private interested party,' the requirement of relevance to official duties demands that specific investigative command authority must be exercised.

Chairperson Jeon stated, "At the time of the investigation into former Minister Chu's child, Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol sent an official document to the Anti-Corruption Commission confirming that 'Minister Chu did not specifically exercise investigative command authority over me,'" adding, "The conclusion of the legal interpretation that triggered the investigation was entirely based on the official document from Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, and there was no room for Chairperson Jeon to improperly intervene and change the conclusion." She further added, "If the Board of Audit and Inspection wants to hold responsibility for abuse of authority regarding the legal interpretation conclusion about former Minister Chu, they should ask Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol."

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission issued a legal interpretation in 2020 stating that it was difficult to consider the prosecution's investigation into the preferential treatment allegations concerning the military service of former Minister Chu's son as a 'conflict of interest.' Regarding this, Chairperson Jeon is under suspicion of improper intervention, and the Sejong Police Agency has taken over the investigation from the prosecution.

In response, Chairperson Jeon asserted her legitimacy by comparing her case to those of Minister of Justice Han and Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee, who are also under investigation for family-related matters. She reiterated, "Using the state authority granted by the Constitution for audit powers arbitrarily to suit the tastes of the administration, and such behavior by the Board of Audit and Inspection, is abuse of authority that undermines the foundation of the rule of law."

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