Sergeant Chae Special Prosecutor, Investigates Park Jinhee, 'Lee Jongseop's Close Associate'... Summons Cho Taeyong Tomorrow

[Financial News] The Sergeant Chae Special Prosecutor Team (Special Prosecutor Lee Myunghyun) is investigating Park Jinhee, a former military aide known as a close associate of former Defense Minister Lee Jongseop, on the 28th. On the 29th, Cho Taeyong, former National Security Office Director, is scheduled to be summoned as a suspect.
Former Aide Park appeared at the Special Prosecutor's Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, around 9 a.m. on the 28th. He was present when former Marine Corps Commander Kim Gyehwan and Marine Corps Investigation Team Leader Park Junghoon (Colonel) reported the initial investigation results of the Sergeant Chae case to former Minister Lee on July 30, 2023.
When asked by reporters if there was any 'fury from former President Yoon Seokyeol', former Aide Park replied, "I pray for the soul of the fallen Sergeant Chae." To the question of whether he contacted the Ministry of Defense Investigation Headquarters under former Minister Lee's orders, he said, "I will speak at the Special Prosecutor's Office."
The Special Prosecutor views former Aide Park as a key figure who conveyed investigative pressure during the process where the media briefing for the investigation results was suddenly canceled on July 31, 2023, and the materials transferred to the police were retrieved.
Special Prosecutor Jeong Minyoung stated in a regular briefing that day, "During the process of briefing cancellation and retrieval of investigation records, he closely communicated with former Minister Lee Jongseop, former Commander Kim Gyehwan, and Legal Affairs Director Yoo Jae-eun," adding, "There is a lot to investigate, so we plan to investigate multiple times."
The Special Prosecutor also notified former National Security Office Director Cho Taeyong of a summons at 9:30 a.m. on the 29th. Former Director Cho is a figure who attended the Chief Secretary meeting presided over by the Presidential Office on July 31, 2023, when the 'VIP Fury Theory' was raised.
Special Prosecutor Jeong stated, "We will summon former Director Cho as a suspect for abuse of authority related to the Sergeant Chae death case," and explained, "We plan to comprehensively examine the circumstances under which the investigation results were reported to the President, what reaction the President showed upon receiving the initial investigation results, what instructions were given to whom, and how those instructions actually affected the investigation."
The Special Prosecutor plans to call former Defense Ministry Policy Director Heo Taegun, who completed a reference investigation on the 25th, for additional questioning at 2 p.m. that day. Former Director Heo did not exercise his right to remain silent during the investigation on the 25th, and it is known that the investigation continued until 10 p.m. This investigation is expected to confirm the creation and distribution process of the 'Defense Ministry Ghost Document'. The ghost document reportedly contains content that the President's fury and investigative pressure are fictional.
The Special Prosecutor is focusing on the allegations of investigative pressure from the Presidential Office related to the Sergeant Chae case, who died during search operations for missing persons amid heavy rain in Yecheon-gun, Gyeongbuk, in July 2023. The so-called 'VIP Fury Theory' is the suspicion that former President Yoon Seokyeol, upon receiving the investigation results at the Chief Secretary meeting on July 31, 2023, expressed anger by saying, "If we punish the division commander for such a matter, who will become a division commander?"
The Special Prosecutor is paying attention to the possibility that former President Yoon exerted pressure through a call with former Minister Lee right after the meeting. It is also reported that there is evidence suggesting that former Aide Park contacted former Commander Kim and others with the intention of reducing the scope of the investigation. Previously, it was known that attendees of the Chief Secretary meeting at the Presidential Office, including former National Security Office First Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo, testified to the Special Prosecutor in a manner acknowledging former President Yoon's fury.  

scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eunsol Reporter