The special counsel on the Marines case said on the 19th that it plans to summon and question former Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Tae-yul and former Justice Ministry Vice Minister Lee No-gong sometime next week. This will be the first time the two face questioning by the special counsel.
At a morning briefing that day, Special Counsel Investigator Jeong Min-young said, "Based on what we have investigated so far, we will begin a full-fledged probe next week into suspects related to the ambassador to Australia," and added, "We will conduct suspect questioning of former Justice Ministry Vice Minister Lee on the 23rd and former Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister Cho on the 24th."
Jeong said, "Former Vice Minister Lee was in the vice minister's post when the Justice Ministry's Personnel Information Management Unit was vetting (former Ministry of National Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop)." Jeong also said, "Former Minister Cho was the official in charge who oversaw the entire process from former Minister Lee's appointment in March 2024 to his subsequent resignation."
According to the special counsel, the two have been accused of aiding a criminal's escape and abuse of power by obstructing the exercise of rights. The special counsel also executed search-and-seizure operations last month on the 4th at their offices and other locations.
The special counsel plans to investigate allegations that the former minister fled to Australia, among other issues. The allegation is that former President Yoon appointed the former minister, who was under suspicion of pressuring the investigation into the death of Sgt. Chae, as ambassador to Australia in March last year and lifted his travel ban to enable his escape. The special counsel believes former Minister Cho and former Vice Minister Lee were involved in the process.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which investigated allegations of external pressure on the probe into the death of Sgt. Chae, requested a travel ban on the former minister on Dec. 7, 2023, and the Justice Ministry imposed the ban the next day. The CIO then extended the former minister's travel ban three times. However, on Mar. 4 the following year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the appointment of the former minister as ambassador to Australia, and four days later, on the 8th, the Justice Ministry lifted the travel ban on the former minister, who was a suspect.