The Marine Special Prosecutor's Office announced on the 31st that it is investigating former presidential office public service discipline secretary Lee Si-won. Lee is suspected of involvement in the process of the military prosecutor's office retrieving investigation records related to the death of Corporal Cha.
On the same day, Special Prosecutor Jeong Min-young noted during a morning briefing, "We are currently investigating former secretary Lee, who was summoned at 9:30 a.m. today."
Former secretary Lee appeared at the Marine Special Prosecutor's Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, around 9:18 a.m. on that day. In response to questions such as "Did former President Yoon Suk-yeol order the retrieval of the records?", "Didn't you think the retrieval of records itself was illegal?", and "Was the retrieval intended for modifying the investigation records?", Lee replied, "I will sincerely provide all statements."
Special Prosecutor Jeong stated, "The special prosecutor's office seized the mobile phone used by former secretary Lee during a previous search and seizure," and added, "Former secretary Lee agreed to provide necessary items for unlocking, such as the mobile phone password." He further noted, "Forensic procedures are also expected to be partially carried out today."
The Ministry of National Defense retrieved investigation records from the Gyeongbuk Police Agency on Aug. 2, 2023. That day, former secretary Lee is under suspicion of involvement in the retrieval of records while conversing with former legal manager Yoo Jae-eun and former National Security Office secretary Lim Gi-hoon, with allegations of abuse of authority.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor is investigating allegations of external pressure in the investigation of Corporal Cha's death based on the 'VIP fury theory.' The VIP fury theory suggests that former President Yoon Suk-yeol became furious after being briefed on the investigation results of the Cha case during a presidential office meeting at 11 a.m. on July 31, 2023, and admonished former Minister Lee over the phone, causing the police referral to be withheld and the investigation results to be altered.