The special investigation team for the deceased Marine has secured a statement from former Economic Security Secretary Wang Yoon-jong that "I witnessed former President Yoon Suk-yeol getting angry." This is the third statement acknowledging the "VIP anger theory."
On this day, a representative of the special investigation team for the deceased Marine noted, "During the investigation of former Secretary Wang the previous day (15th), he made a statement implying acknowledgment of the 'VIP anger theory.'"
The VIP anger theory alleges that former President Yoon got angry after being briefed on the investigation results of the death of Private Cha Sang-byeong during a meeting at the presidential office at 11 a.m. on July 31, 2023, and criticized then-Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop over the phone, causing the police referral to be withheld and altering the investigation results.
Former Secretary Wang stated that President Yoon got angry at then-Secretary of Defense Im Ki-hoon, who reported the initial investigation results of Private Cha's death during that day's meeting, and told other participants, excluding Im, to leave the meeting room.
As a result, the number of individuals who acknowledged the anger theory of former President Yoon among the meeting participants has increased to three. Previously, former Security Office First Deputy Kim Tae-hyo stated during the special investigation on the 11th that "former President Yoon got very angry after being briefed on the investigation results of the Cha case." Former National Security Office Diplomatic Secretary Lee Chung-myeon also reportedly stated during the summons investigation on the 14th that "I witnessed former President Yoon getting very angry."
Meanwhile, the special investigation team for the deceased Marine plans to summon former Presidential Office Deputy Minister Kang Yi-gu for questioning at 2 p.m. that day. Although Kang did not attend the meeting, it has been investigated that he was in a position directly assisting former President Yoon at the time of Private Cha's death.