Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Investigates Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 'Lee Jong-seop Escape' Allegations... Kim Yong-hyun to be Investigated in Detention Center

[Financial News] The Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Team (Lee Myung-hyun Special Prosecutor) is conducting a search and seizure at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on the 6th to investigate allegations of aiding and abetting the escape of Lee Jong-seop, former Minister of National Defense, in connection with his appointment as Ambassador to Australia.
Jeong Min-young, Deputy Special Prosecutor for Chae Sang-byeong, stated in a regular briefing on the 6th, "We are conducting a search and seizure at some offices of the Seoul Ministry of Foreign Affairs from this morning," explaining that "this is to secure materials held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs related to the allegations of aiding and abetting the escape of the former minister's appointment as Ambassador to Australia."
The special prosecutor team is focusing on offices where related materials are stored, such as the Minister's Office and the Personnel Planning Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Additionally, the investigation of Kim Yong-hyun, former Minister of National Defense, scheduled for today, will be conducted later at the detention center. Deputy Special Prosecutor Jeong stated, "The former minister's side requested schedule coordination," and "considering his status as a reference, the investigation will be conducted at Seoul Eastern Detention Center." He also mentioned that the criminal trial schedule of the former minister will be considered in coordinating the investigation schedule.
The special prosecutor team plans to summon Kim Cheol-mun, former Gyeongbuk Police Chief, as a reference for investigation on the 7th at 2 PM. Former Chief Kim announced the investigation results of the Chae Sang-byeong death case on July 8 last year, deciding not to forward the case against former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun, but to forward the case against six others, including the battalion commander, to the prosecution for charges of occupational negligence resulting in death.
Deputy Special Prosecutor Jeong stated, "The special prosecutor's investigation also targets whether there were any illegal acts such as external pressure during the investigation process of the Gyeongbuk Police," and "the investigation will focus on the overall investigation process at the time against former Chief Kim."
With about a month left until the end of the investigation, regarding the possibility of an extension, Deputy Special Prosecutor Jeong stated, "There has been no such discussion so far," and "I think it will be discussed as the investigation period nears its end."
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor is also finalizing the fact-finding process through the investigation of former Minister Kim regarding the so-called 'VIP Rage Theory,' which claims that former President Yoon Seok-yeol was 'furious' after receiving the initial investigation results of the Marine Corps investigation team. Former Minister Kim was present at the meeting of senior secretaries presided over by former President Yoon, where the rage theory was raised.
The special prosecutor has also launched a full-scale investigation into the entire process of former Minister Lee's appointment as Ambassador to Australia and the lifting of the travel ban. The special prosecutor team is accelerating the acquisition of related materials by conducting a forced investigation against high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Presidential Office, including former Minister of Justice Park Seong-jae and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yeol, who were involved in the appointment process of the former minister, since the 4th.
Former Minister Lee was accused by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) of exerting external pressure during the transfer and retrieval process of the Marine Corps investigation team related to the Chae Sang-byeong death incident that occurred in July 2023. At that time, the CIO imposed a travel ban on him, but it was lifted when he was appointed as an ambassador in March last year, following the acceptance of an objection by the Ministry of Justice.

scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter