Prosecutors' Office, Drinks on the Evening of Yoon's Warrant Request... "Investigation Team Did Not Drink"

Dinner with Five Including Director and Deputy Director at Nearby Restaurant
"For Encouragement Among Leadership... Only Director and Deputy Director Consumed Alcohol"

On the same day that an arrest warrant was requested for President Yoon Seok-yeol, the leadership of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HOCIU) reportedly held a dinner accompanied by alcohol. The HOCIU explained that it was a gathering for encouragement, and only some attendees, including Director Oh Dong-woon, consumed alcohol, while "no members of the investigation team drank."

A file photo of Odongwoon, Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (Gongsoocheo), arriving at the Gongsoocheo office in the Government Gwacheon Complex. Photo by Jo Yongjun

On the 22nd, Yonhap News and TV Chosun reported that "Oh Dong-woon, Director of the HOCIU, Lee Jae-seung, Deputy Director of the HOCIU, and three others had a dinner with alcohol for about an hour around 6:20 p.m. on the 17th at a restaurant near the Government Complex Gwacheon." Present at the gathering were also Lee Dae-hwan, Chief Prosecutor of Investigation Division 3 and head of the HOCIU’s emergency task force (TF), and Cha Jeong-hyun, Chief Prosecutor of Investigation Division 4 and the lead prosecutor on President Yoon’s case.

At that time, the HOCIU had announced to the media about 30 minutes earlier that they had requested an arrest warrant for President Yoon on charges of leading a rebellion and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights. The warrant’s substantive hearing was scheduled for the following day.

The closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the restaurant, released by TV Chosun, showed attendees including Director Oh raising wine glasses in a toast. A person presumed to be Deputy Chief Prosecutor Cha was also seen bringing a wine glass to his mouth as if drinking.

In response, the HOCIU stated, "This was merely a gathering for encouragement among the leadership and a pledge to do their best in executing the warrant, not a drinking party." They emphasized, "Only Director Oh and Deputy Director Lee drank wine and beer; no investigation team members consumed alcohol."

The HOCIU explained that they ordered two bottles of beer and soft drinks at the restaurant, and brought the wine themselves. The meal cost approximately 400,000 won, which was paid using Director Oh’s special duty expenses.

Earlier, on the 17th at around 5:40 p.m., the HOCIU filed an arrest warrant with the Seoul Western District Court for President Yoon, who was charged with rebellion (leader) and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights under the Criminal Act. The warrant’s substantive hearing was held on the 18th at 2 p.m. before Judge Cha Eun-kyung of the Seoul Western District Court, with President Yoon attending in person. Subsequently, the court issued the arrest warrant for President Yoon at around 2:56 a.m. on the 19th, citing concerns over evidence tampering.

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