The prosecution and the state anti-corruption agency are intensifying their investigations into former President Yoon Suk Yeol ahead of the launch of an independent special counsel probe. The ongoing inquiries center on allegations of insurrection, treason and obstruction of a military investigation.
According to the prosecution’s investigation team, led by the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office chief prosecutor Park Se-hyun, the prosecutors have obtained key evidence, including phone server-related data from Yoon's secure lines and surveillance footage provided Monday by the Presidential Security Service.
Since January, the investigation team has attempted multiple times to secure such records through search warrants, but the PSS denied previous requests, citing the Criminal Procedure Act. The act bans any search and seizure attempts in places where secret military matters are handled, including the presidential residence, without the permission of the authority in charge.
The PSS decided to cooperate with the prosecution, which on May 29 initiated another attempt to secure more evidence to substantiate charges against the former president. The additional data stored on the server is reportedly taking time to access, as the PSS is making a voluntary submission while coordinating with the prosecution.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, which is investigating Yoon’s alleged interference with a military investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, also requested additional phone records from the presidential office on Monday.
Chae was a Marine conscript who drowned during a rescue mission in 2023.
The Democratic Party of Korea claimed that Yoon tried to hinder an investigation into Lim Seong-geun, the then-commander of the deceased Marine’s division, for possible negligence or other wrongdoing in Chae’s death.
The anti-corruption investigative agency previously secured data related to a specific phone number, which is suspected to be associated with Yoon’s private office or workroom.
The number was allegedly used to call then-Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, shortly after which the Marine’s case — which had been scheduled for transfer to the police — was suspended. The CIO suspects that Yoon instructed the former minister to delay the transfer of the case via phone.
The CIO is reportedly obtaining the evidence needed to identify the origin of the phone number.
The agency also conducted search and seizure operations Tuesday at the Presidential Archives as part of an investigation into the Marine's death.
"The agency will transfer the necessary records once the special counsel probe is launched. But until special prosecutors are appointed, we are committed to investigating the case thoroughly," the CIO official said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Though the special prosecutor probe is expected to be launched soon, following the Cabinet's approval of the special counsel bills Tuesday afternoon, both the prosecutors and the state anti-corruption agency pushed ahead with their activities to ensure there is no interruption in the investigation.
The prosecution, the CIO and the police are required to comply with special prosecutors' requests for investigative records and evidence, as well as the transfer of any cases currently under trial.
The extent to which the special prosecutors will take over the martial law-related cases is expected to be decided after the special counsel probe is formally activated.
Meanwhile, the police are likely to consider an arrest warrant for Yoon as the former president continues to defy summonses.
The police’s special investigation unit announced Monday that a second summons was sent to Yoon.
“We requested that he appear for questioning on June 5, but Yoon’s legal team rejected the summons. We asked him to comply with a second summons on Thursday,” a police official said in a press conference held on Monday.
Police typically request an arrest warrant if a suspect fails to respond to a third summons.
The police reportedly claimed that there is nothing more to share in regard to a possible arrest warrant since only the second summons has been issued. However, it vowed to make every effort to facilitate all investigations.
Yoon’s legal representatives reportedly stated that Yoon would not appear before the police, calling the measure a "humiliating summons."
sj_lee@heraldcorp.com
