The special investigation team led by Lee Myung-hyun, investigating allegations of external pressure in the investigation of the death of Corporal Chae, has initiated a forced investigation against the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and former CIO chief prosecutors who previously investigated the case. This is the first time the special investigation team has conducted a search and seizure of the CIO.
The special investigation team has been conducting searches and seizures at the CIO office in the Government Complex Gwacheon from around 3:30 p.m. on the 29th, sending prosecutors and investigators there.
It is reported that the investigation team secured relevant materials from the offices used by former CIO Investigation Division 2 Chief Song Chang-jin, former Investigation Division 1 Chief Kim Sun-kyu, and former Investigation Division 3 Chief Park Seok-il. Earlier that morning, they also conducted searches at their homes or law offices and seized mobile phones.
The investigation targets under the Marine Special Investigation Act include illegal acts related to external pressure suspected to have been placed on the CIO's investigation into abuse of power and dereliction of duty regarding the concealment and cover-up of the Corporal Chae case. At that time, there were suspicions that external pressure on the investigation team was a primary reason for delays in the CIO's investigation.
The special investigation team is also looking into the case of former Director General Song's alleged perjury in the National Assembly (violation of the National Assembly Testimony Act). Previously, former Director General Song was accused of perjury related to Lee Jong-ho, a former representative of Black Pearl Invest, who was involved in lobbying to exonerate former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun at the '2nd hearing on the impeachment petition against President Yoon Suk-yeol' held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on July 26 last year.
Lee, a former representative known to be an associate of First Lady Kim Keon-hee, is accused of lobbying for Kim and others in connection with members of the group chat room known as the 'handsome Marines', which was identified as a lobbying channel.
After completing analysis, including forensic examinations of the materials secured during the search on that day, the special investigation team plans to summon former Director General Song and others in turn to confirm the facts surrounding the allegations.