[Breaking] Lee Seong-yoon Acquitted in First Trial for Alleged Investigation Interference in Kim Hak-ui Illegal Departure Case

Lee Seong-yoon, the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, who was indicted on charges of exerting external pressure in the investigation of the illegal travel ban case involving former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, is attending the trial held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 20th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Lee Seong-yoon, a research fellow at the Legal Research Institute who was prosecuted for exerting external pressure in the investigation of the illegal travel ban case involving former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, was acquitted in the first trial.

On the afternoon of the 15th, the Criminal Division 27 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Ok-gon) stated, "It is difficult to consider that the prosecution has sufficiently proven the charges that the defendant exerted illegal and improper pressure based solely on the evidence submitted by the prosecutor," and acquitted the research fellow.

The court explained, "It is difficult to view the act of explaining that 'the travel ban on Kim Hak-ui was a matter agreed upon by the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office' or asking 'whether there is a recording of the investigation process' as illegal and improper external pressure."

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