Second Investigation into Former President Yoon Suk-yeol
A special counsel team is conducting a second investigation into former President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Seoul Detention Center. This comes just five days after the initial summons investigation on the 11th. The focus of this new probe centers around allegations that Yoon attempted to help a former Defense Minister, Lee Jong-sup, evade prosecution by appointing him as ambassador to Australia.
Allegations and Charges
The Special Counsel is examining whether Yoon provided assistance to Lee, who was under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIHRO) over the death of late Sergeant Chae Soo-geun. Yoon is accused of aiding a criminal’s escape and abusing his authority in relation to Lee’s appointment and departure as ambassador to Australia.
Lee was appointed as ambassador to Australia on March 4 of the following year after being reported by the Democratic Party in September 2023. Shortly after his appointment, the CIHRO placed a travel ban on him. In response, Lee requested the Ministry of Justice to lift the ban on March 6. The ministry lifted the travel ban on March 8 after reviewing the case through the Travel Ban Deliberation Committee.
Investigation Focus
The Special Counsel is looking into whether Yoon and officials from the presidential office issued improper instructions or exerted external pressure during the designation, appointment, and departure process of Lee as ambassador. This includes examining the actions of key figures such as former Minister Park, former Vice Minister Shim, former Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, and former National Security Adviser Jang Ho-jin.
During previous investigations, the Special Counsel conducted large-scale seizures and searches on these individuals, as well as officials from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the presidential office. These efforts revealed circumstances suggesting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ qualification review and verification were conducted hastily. There were also signs that then-Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and Vice Justice Minister Shim Woo-jung were involved in the process of lifting the travel ban.
Presidential Office Statement
At the time, the presidential office stated that there were no issues with the appointment as ambassador to Australia and the departure process, as the CIHRO was not conducting an investigation into Lee. However, the ongoing investigations are challenging this claim, highlighting potential irregularities in the process.
Previous Investigation
On the 11th, former President Yoon underwent an investigation into allegations of “external pressure on the investigation” regarding the Sergeant Chae case and “lobbying for a pardon” involving former 1st Marine Division Commander Lim Seong-geun. During the first investigation, Yoon actively denied the allegations with his attorney without exercising his right to refuse to testify.
This second investigation marks a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of Yoon’s actions and their implications on the integrity of the legal processes involved. As the Special Counsel continues its inquiry, the findings could have far-reaching consequences for those involved and the broader political landscape.