Current Prosecutor Files Complaint Against Kang Jin-gu and Byeon Hee-jae Over Alleged Coercion Report on Jang Si-ho

"No Practice Given for Testimony"

A current prosecutor, who was accused of persuading Jang Si-ho, who was investigated for the state affairs manipulation scandal, to practice testimony, has filed a lawsuit against an internet media reporter who reported such content.

According to the legal community on the 10th, Kim Young-cheol, Head of the Anti-Corruption Division 1 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor), filed a defamation lawsuit under the Information and Communications Network Act against Kang Jin-gu, a reporter for the YouTube channel 'Newtamsa,' and Byun Hee-jae, CEO of Mediawatch, at the Seocho Police Station in Seoul in the afternoon. He also filed a damages suit for a total of 300 million won against them at the Seoul Central District Court.

Choi Seo-won's niece Jang Si-ho Photo by Yonhap News

Chief Prosecutor Kim stated that he never made Jang practice testimony or informed her of the sentencing range in advance, nor did he maintain a personal relationship with her, and that Kang and Byun should compensate for damages and issue a correction report. Kim also announced plans to investigate how acquaintance A, presumed to have leaked Jang’s recorded conversations, provided the materials and whether there was any collusion, and to proceed with additional accusations.

Earlier, Newtamsa raised suspicions on the 6th that Chief Prosecutor Kim, during his dispatch to the special prosecution team for the state affairs manipulation scandal, persuaded or made Jang, the niece of Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil), practice testimony and maintained a personal relationship with her. The basis was a transcript of a conversation between Jang and acquaintance A in 2020. Byun published this Newtamsa report as is or cited it in columns on Mediawatch, criticizing Chief Prosecutor Kim and the special prosecution investigation at the time. Jang was a suspect and key witness in the state affairs manipulation case, testifying at hearings and trials about various corruptions involving Choi and suspicions of Samsung Group’s involvement.

On the 8th, Chief Prosecutor Kim released a statement denying the allegations, saying, "The report is baseless and false with no value," and "I have never met her outside, never contacted her for reasons unrelated to the case, and have never engaged in any behavior that could cause misunderstanding."

Civil organization Judicial Justice Citizens’ Action (Sasehaeng) held a press conference at the National Assembly on the same day and announced that they would file a complaint with the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Office (Hosu) against Chief Prosecutor Kim for abuse of authority and instigation of false testimony.

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