Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor, Jo Tae-yong Investigation... Focused Questioning on 'Yoon's Fury'

[Financial News] The Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Team (Lee Myung-hyun Special Prosecutor) summoned former National Intelligence Service Director Jo Tae-yong on the 29th as a suspect for abuse of power and began the investigation. Attention is focused on whether Jo, who has denied former President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'fury', will change his stance in this investigation.
Jung Min-young, deputy special prosecutor for Chae Sang-byeong, said in a regular briefing, "Former Director Jo is expected to know in detail the contents and reactions reported to former President Yoon, and to whom Yoon gave instructions," adding, "We plan to focus on this part in the investigation." The special prosecutor also plans to verify the phone conversations Jo had with related parties.
The initial investigation results of the Marine Corps investigation team related to the Chae Sang-byeong death incident were first reported through a National Security Office official at the President's Office Chief Secretary meeting on July 31 last year. Former Director Jo, who was the National Security Office Director at the time, also attended the meeting.
Former Director Jo arrived at the special prosecutor's office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, around 9:20 a.m. on the same day. When asked by reporters if he had directly witnessed former President Yoon's fury, Jo only replied, "I will cooperate with the investigation sincerely." He also refrained from commenting when asked if he had seen the President call former Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop, saying, "I will undergo the investigation well. Thank you."
He remained silent on questions about what instructions the President gave and whether he had stated that the investigation results were not reported to the President during the meeting.
During Jo's appearance, Marine Corps veterans gathered in front of the special prosecutor's office, protesting, "Jo Tae-yong, tell the truth."
The 'VIP Fury Theory' suggests that after former President Yoon was briefed on the initial investigation results of the Chae Sang-byeong incident, he was furious, saying, "Who would want to be a division commander if they are punished for such matters?" Subsequently, former Minister Lee allegedly ordered the postponement of police transfer and the cancellation of a press briefing, raising suspicions of investigation pressure.
It is known that Jo stayed behind after the meeting with former Defense Secretary Im Ki-hoon to have a separate conversation with former President Yoon, and it was confirmed that he had a phone call with former Minister Lee shortly after the incident records were retrieved on August 2.
Jo denied the 'VIP Fury Theory' in the National Assembly in 2023, stating, "There is no such fact."
The special prosecutor plans to summon former military aide Park Jin-hee for questioning again on the 30th. He did not exercise his right to remain silent during the previous day's investigation, and the special prosecutor plans to further investigate the situation up to August 2 and the subsequent contact with related parties.
Additionally, the special prosecutor plans to summon former Presidential Office Public Discipline Secretary Lee Si-won as a suspect at 9:30 a.m. on the 31st for questioning. Deputy Special Prosecutor Jung explained, "On August 2, 2023, the Marine Corps investigation team transferred the case records to the police, and the Ministry of National Defense Prosecutor's Office retrieved them. It was confirmed that former Secretary Lee communicated closely with police and Ministry of National Defense officials during the record retrieval and subsequent actions." The special prosecutor plans to focus on whether there were any illegal activities during the record retrieval process.
Former Defense Policy Director Heo Tae-geun, who underwent a second investigation the previous day, was reportedly a key investigation target for the so-called 'Ministry of National Defense Ghost Document' related to the President's fury and investigation pressure being fabricated.
Meanwhile, former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Im Seong-geun, accused of occupational negligence related to the Chae Sang-byeong death incident, attempted to submit an opinion letter to the special prosecutor without prior coordination, leading to a confrontation with Marine Corps veterans and the special prosecutor's side.
 




scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter