Prosecution Reinvestigates 'Choo Mi-ae Son's Leave Non-Return Case'... Officer in Charge Summoned for Three Days

Prosecutors have launched a reinvestigation into the case involving allegations that Seo, the son of former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, failed to return from leave.

Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae [Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 6th, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office announced that it had summoned Captain Kim, who was in charge of leave at the time, for a three-day investigation starting on the 3rd regarding Seo's alleged failure to return from leave in April. It is also known that the on-duty soldier who exposed the allegations and the person authorized to approve the leave were called in for questioning.

Seo, who served as a KATUSA soldier under the U.S. 8th Army in South Korea, extended his sick leave and overlapped it with his regular leave from June 5 to 27, 2017. During this period, allegations arose that Seo did not return to the unit on his own without proper approval, and that former Minister Chu's side requested special favors for Seo's leave.

The prosecutors conducted an investigation for nine months but dismissed charges against Seo, former Minister Chu, and her aide in September 2020. However, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office issued a 'reinvestigation order' in November last year, citing insufficient investigation at the time.

Going forward, prosecutors plan to consider additional investigations of former Minister Chu's aide and Seo.

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