Special Prosecutor Replaces Deputy in Charge of 'Alleged Manipulation of North Korea Remittance Indictment' Investigation

"A Measure to Address Concerns About Fairness"

The second comprehensive special prosecutor team led by Changyoung Kwon announced on the 16th that it has replaced the deputy special prosecutor in charge of the "Ssangbangwool alleged manipulation of North Korea remittance indictment" case.

Special Prosecutor Changyoung Kwon and assistant prosecutors of the special investigation team announced their position at the office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on February 25. Photo by Yonhap News

The comprehensive special prosecutor team informed reporters that "regarding the suspected abuse of power case involving alleged intervention by the presidential office in the investigation into Ssangbangwool’s remittances to North Korea, which was referred by the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, the deputy special prosecutor in charge has been changed to Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim Chiheon."

The team added, "Although the previous deputy special prosecutor in charge, Kwon Youngbin, had previously served as the defense attorney for Lee Hwa-young and Bang Yongcheol, these past cases are unrelated to the current investigation. However, this measure has been taken to address any concerns about fairness that may arise during the course of the investigation."

Kwon, the deputy special prosecutor, became the subject of controversy over impartiality after it became known that he had once defended former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace, Lee Hwa-young. It has been reported that he represented Lee in the first and second trials between 2012 and 2014, when Lee was prosecuted on charges of accepting illegal political funds from savings banks and others.

Kwon also took on the case of former Ssangbangwool Vice Chairman Bang Yongcheol, who was accused of offering bribes in 2022, based on an introduction from Lee. During a parliamentary hearing on the 14th, Bang testified, "Vice Governor Lee introduced me to (Deputy Special Prosecutor Kwon)."

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