The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) stated on the 8th that it plans to resume the investigation into the 'suspicion of external pressure in the death case of Marine Private First Class Chae' once the investigation related to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law is concluded.
A CIO official noted during a meeting with reporters at the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, that "since all prosecutors were fundamentally involved in the emergency martial law case, it is necessary to wrap things up."
He added, "We plan to resume the investigation into the 'Chae incident' depending on the situation, and I hope that timing is not after the emergency martial law investigation is completed." He continued, "Once things are somewhat organized, we will resume, but it is difficult to discuss the investigative methods."
When asked by reporters about the possibility of summoning former President Yoon as part of the investigation into the Chae incident, a CIO official said, "Former President Yoon is also under investigation as a suspect," adding, "This is all I can say at this point."
Former President Yoon is currently a suspect, having been accused by a Marine Corps reservist group and the Justice Reform Party of exerting external pressure on the investigation into the death of Private First Class Chae last year. The CIO secured the communication records from Yoon's personal cellphone in August of last year, confirming calls with former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seob and others.
The official also stated that it is difficult to say that there has been no progress in the investigation related to Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, who was accused by the civic group Justice Reform Citizen Action (JRC) over allegations of favoritism in the hiring of his daughter at the National Diplomatic Academy, saying, "It is hard to say there has been no investigation situation at all, but we are in a certain stage of progress, and it is difficult to provide details."
Prior to this, JRC filed accusations against Prosecutor General Shim and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul based on allegations raised by Lee Jung-ae, a member of the Democratic Party, that Shim's daughter passed the final selection at the National Diplomatic Academy without meeting the qualifications. The CIO assigned this case to the third investigation division (Director General Lee Dae-hwan).