Prosecutor Moon Jiseok, Who Exposed Investigative Pressure, Appears Before Coupang Special Prosecutor

Moon: "Any Public Official Who Lies or Commits Wrongdoing Must Be Held Accountable"

Prosecutor Moon Ji-seok, who revealed that there was pressure from a superior during the investigation of the 'Coupang Daily Worker Severance Pay Nonpayment' case, appeared as a witness at the office of Special Prosecutor Ahn Kwon-seop in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 11th and made a statement. Photo by Yonhap News

Prosecutor Moon Jiseok, who claimed that there was pressure from higher-ups during the handling of the 'Coupang Daily Worker Severance Pay Nonpayment' case, appeared as a witness before Special Prosecutor Ahn Gwonsup's team.

Arriving at the special prosecutor's office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 11th, Prosecutor Moon stated, "I will sincerely speak only the facts as they are," and added, "I hope the permanent special prosecutor will uncover the whole truth, and I believe that any public official who lies or commits wrongdoing during this process must be held strictly accountable."

The special prosecutor's team plans to question Prosecutor Moon about the facts surrounding his allegations of investigative interference raised during the National Assembly audit, the circumstances of his disclosure, and the specific instructions given by superiors during the investigation.

Previously, the Bucheon Branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office dismissed and declined to indict the case in April, which had been referred with a recommendation for indictment by the Central Regional Employment and Labor Office concerning Coupang Fulfillment Services (CFS), a Coupang logistics subsidiary, for nonpayment of severance pay.

At the time, Prosecutor Moon, who was in charge of the case as the head of the Criminal Division 3, testified at the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment, and Labor Committee audit in October, claiming that then-branch chief Eom Heejoon (currently a prosecutor at the Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office) and then-deputy chief prosecutor Kim Donghee (currently a prosecutor at the Busan High Prosecutors' Office) pressured him to clear Coupang of charges. He also asserted that, following these guidelines, the core results of the search and seizure were omitted from the report to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, leading to the final decision not to indict.

Prosecutor Moon also appeared as a witness at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit, testifying, "On March 7 this year, Chief Eom verbally abused and threatened me for over nine minutes, ordered an inspection by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and said he would reassign the case."

In response, Prosecutor Eom denied ever issuing a coercive order for acquittal while disregarding the lead prosecutor's opinion. Prosecutor Eom requested that the special prosecutor's team charge Prosecutor Moon with false accusation.

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