Chae Sangbyeong Special Counsel Summons Former Prosecutor General Sim Woojeong Over Lee Jongseop's Alleged Escape
Appears as a Suspect
Enters Without Answering Questions
Former Prosecutor General Sim Woojeong appeared as a suspect before the special investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Lee Myunghyun on September 30, in connection with allegations that former Defense Minister Lee Jongseop fled to Australia. This is the first time Sim has been questioned by the special investigation team regarding the Chae Sangbyeong case.
At around 9:55 a.m. on this day, Sim arrived at the special prosecutor's office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, wearing a black suit and a blue tie. When asked by reporters whether he had ever suggested lifting the travel ban on former Minister Lee before the travel ban review, and whether, as a former prosecutor, he considered it acceptable to allow a suspect to leave the country, Sim did not respond and proceeded directly to the interrogation room.
Sim is suspected of being involved in the process of appointing Lee as ambassador to Australia, lifting his travel ban, and facilitating his departure from the country in March of last year while serving as Vice Minister of Justice.
Former Minister Lee became a key suspect in the allegations of external pressure on the Chae Sangbyeong case investigation and was placed under a travel ban by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in March of last year. However, on March 4, 2024, he was abruptly appointed as ambassador to Australia, and four days later, on March 8, his travel ban was lifted, allowing him to leave the country.
Last month, the special investigation team conducted searches and seizures targeting Sim and other Ministry of Justice officials at the time, including former Minister Park Sungjae and former Vice Minister Lee Nogong, as part of the investigation into these allegations. During the investigation, the team reportedly obtained testimony that former Minister Park and Sim instructed the officials handling the travel ban to lift the ban on Lee, as he had been appointed ambassador.
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The special investigation team plans to focus its questioning of Sim on the circumstances surrounding the sudden lifting of Lee's travel ban and whether there were any instructions from higher authorities, including the Presidential Office.
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