[2023 National Audit] Kim Eui-gyeom Raises Allegations of Fictitious Address Registration Against Lee Jeong-seop, Deputy Chief of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office

Kim Eui-gyeom, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, raised suspicions about Lee Jeong-seop, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, who is investigating the Ssangbangwool Group's remittance to North Korea case, during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit held at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office on the 17th.

On the morning of the 17th, the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a government audit at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, covering 11 prosecution offices including the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Kim Euigyeom, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is questioning Shin Bong-su, the head of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

During the morning audit session, Rep. Kim stated, "Deputy Chief Lee seems to be someone who should be investigated rather than the person investigating Representative Lee," and pointed out, "Deputy Chief Lee moved his daughter's resident registration from his residence in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to the apartment immediately to the right. This is a disguised move to send his daughter to the prestigious Daedo Elementary School."

Rep. Kim also revealed that Deputy Chief Lee anonymously made reservations for a golf course operated by his brother-in-law at a low cost for the benefit of his seniors and juniors, providing conveniences such as carts and caddies, calling the golf course a "playground for prosecutors."

He further claimed that Deputy Chief Lee took on the role of checking criminal records of golf course employees and housekeepers on behalf of his brother-in-law and handled various civil and criminal disputes related to his in-laws.

After implying that Deputy Chief Lee pressured the police station handling his in-laws' cases, he said, "If this is true, it is serious. Since the honor of the prosecution is at stake, I request that Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee appear this afternoon to explain this issue."

Rep. Kim added, "Deputy Chief Lee is known as a corporate specialist prosecutor, and companies regard him as a grim reaper. However, he himself has about 18 million won in confirmed unpaid taxes over two years since 2021, and his car license plate was confiscated due to unpaid automobile taxes."

In response, Shin Bong-su, Chief Prosecutor of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, said, "This is the first time I have seen the materials shown, and although some parts are obscured, as far as I know, there have been no issues during the inspection process," adding, "This session is meant to discuss the work done by Suwon and Seoul High Prosecutors' Offices over the past year, so I question whether this is the appropriate time to address this."

Rep. Kim emphasized, "The issue of Deputy Chief Lee's identity verification is a serious crime and must be clearly clarified. If you believe there is illegality in the information I have, investigate and prosecute as much as you want. But I also demand that Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee be investigated equally."

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Jeong-seop was not present at the audit session as he was not a witness for the National Assembly audit that day.

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