Second Special Prosecutor Launches Search and Seizure Against Supreme Prosecutors' Office for Refusing to Provide Materials

Compulsory Seizure of Constitutional Respect Task Force Materials

On May 11, the second consolidated special prosecutor team executed two search and seizure warrants against the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in connection with the investigation into former Prosecutor General Sim Woojeong for charges including participation in major insurrection-related duties.

Special Prosecutor Changyoung Kwon is making a statement with deputy special prosecutors at the office in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province on February 25. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

During a regular briefing held at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on this day, the consolidated special prosecutor team stated, "Today, two search and seizure warrants against the Supreme Prosecutors' Office are being executed in relation to former Prosecutor General Sim Woojeong's alleged participation in major insurrection-related duties."

The first warrant pertains to materials submitted by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to the Constitutional Respect Task Force. The consolidated special prosecutor team had previously requested these materials from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, but the request was denied. As a result, the team requested disciplinary action against two officials from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office from the Ministry of Justice. On this day, the team obtained a search and seizure warrant for the relevant materials and proceeded with compulsory execution. The other warrant targets electronic approval documents at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office related to the abandonment of an immediate appeal.

Meanwhile, the search and seizure of the E-Pros server located at the National Information Resources Service in Gwangju, which is part of the ongoing investigation related to former Prosecutor General Sim, is still underway. The consolidated special prosecutor team explained, "Due to the large volume of items subject to execution and the slow network processing speed, the execution period is being extended," and added, "The execution of the warrants is scheduled to continue this week, and the end date has yet to be determined."

In addition, the consolidated special prosecutor team stated during the briefing that last week, they questioned four suspects and 23 witnesses. On May 7, Lee Eunwoo, former president of KTV, was questioned as a suspect on charges of insurrection propaganda, and the first suspect interrogation of a Joint Chiefs of Staff official was also conducted, although the individual's identity was not disclosed.

The consolidated special prosecutor team also announced that on May 6, they conducted an on-site inspection of a facility located on Yeonpyeong Island, and on May 8, of another facility in Gwanak District. These facilities were listed in the notes of Noh Sangwon as places designated for detention after the arrest and collection of key figures. The team stated, "In order to prove that murder for the purpose of insurrection was premeditated and prepared following the declaration of martial law, we applied for verification warrants. We have confirmed that these facilities are indeed suitable to be used as detention sites."

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