Vice Administrator Lee Jin-dong of the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office stated that the reason for his phone call with former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun before Kim voluntarily appeared at the prosecution was to persuade him to appear for an investigation into charges of insurrection.
On the 6th, Vice Administrator Lee responded to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Baek Hye-ryun during the 3rd hearing of the 'National Assembly Special Committee for Investigating Insurrection Charges Through the Yoon Seok-yeol Government's Declaration of Martial Law,' about the reason for the call at that time.
Vice Administrator Lee said he spoke with Kim on the evening of Dec. 6 last year, two days before Kim voluntarily appeared before the prosecution. Lee remarked on the situation at that time, saying, "The most important thing in this case was securing Kim's physical custody," and added, "Since Kim was in a military protection facility, even if we obtained a warrant, we could not execute it without consent."
He also noted, "It was essential to persuade him to voluntarily appear, so that was my first priority," and explained, "The investigation team said it was difficult to persuade him, so I said I would call directly to try to persuade him."
However, Democratic lawmaker Yoon Geon-young raised questions, stating that Kim called Vice Administrator Lee first. Yoon said that Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung asked Vice Minister of National Defense Kim Seon-ho (acting minister) how to contact Kim. Later, Vice Minister Kim relayed Kim's burner phone number.
Yoon explained, "Director General Lee Chan-kyu of the Special Investigation Headquarters for Martial Law at the Prosecutors' Office contacted former Minister Kim twice to demand his appearance," adding that Kim replied, "I will talk after consulting with the president."
Former Minister Kim was instructed by President Yoon Seok-yeol to consult with Chief Civil Affairs Secretary Kim Joo-hyun. Yoon explained that this led former Minister Kim to directly call Vice Administrator Lee. There are claims that the prosecution mobilized President Yoon to secure Kim's physical custody faster than the police.
Vice Administrator Lee stated that he could not mention specific details of the call, but confirmed that the investigation team received the phone number and used it to persuade Kim to appear. He added, "I understand that the phone Kim was using was not reachable, so the investigation team obtained the number with the Ministry of National Defense's support."
Vice Administrator Lee also responded that he was unaware that the mobile phone used by former Minister Kim was a burner phone. He stated, "I found out after seeing the news report broadcast yesterday."
It is reported that former Minister Kim received the burner phone from Vice Administrator Kim Sung-hoon of the Presidential Security Service and then handed it to former Commander Noh.
Vice Administrator Lee stated, "We are conducting a strict investigation into cases related to insurrection," adding that the investigation into the Presidential Security Service's Vice Administrator is a separate case regarding obstruction of justice concerning the arrest warrant for President Yoon.
He added, "The prosecution conducted a strict investigation; there has never been a case of favoritism."