Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor, 'Lee Jong-seop Aide' Summoned Again Tomorrow... Former Far East Broadcasting President Absent

[Financial News] The special prosecutor team led by Chae Sang-byeong (Special Prosecutor Lee Myung-hyun) will summon Park Jin-hee, a former military aide to the Ministry of National Defense and a close associate of former Minister Lee Jong-seop, for questioning again. Han Gi-bung, the former president of Far East Broadcasting, who was scheduled to appear as a reference in connection with the 'Protestant Rescue Lobby Allegations', was absent.
Jung Min-young, assistant special prosecutor for Chae Sang-byeong, said in a regular briefing on the 15th that former aide Park will be summoned for questioning at 9:30 a.m. on the 16th, stating, "There is so much to investigate," and "During the process of further investigations, it is expected that the conversations exchanged during the Ministry of National Defense's investigation will also be examined."
Former aide Park is facing charges of abuse of authority in connection with the death of Chae Sang-byeong and perjury related to the trial of Colonel Park Jung-hoon, head of the Marine Corps investigation team, for insubordination. He has previously undergone two suspect interrogations. He was a key aide to former Minister Lee during the period of July to August 2023, when suspicions of external pressure on the investigation into the Chae Sang-byeong case arose, and was in close contact with related parties.
The special prosecutor team also announced that former president Han did not comply with the request for reference investigation. Assistant special prosecutor Jung said, "Although we requested his appearance as a reference in connection with the rescue lobby allegations involving former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun, he expressed his intention not to appear today," and added, "We are continuously coordinating with the investigation team regarding the progress of the investigation." Former president Han is suspected of deleting phone records, including those from about seven months immediately after the Chae Sang-byeong death incident.
In connection with the Protestant rescue lobby allegations, Pastor Kim Jang-hwan, chairman of Far East Broadcasting, has also been notified to appear for reference investigation at 9:30 a.m. on the 17th. However, Pastor Kim's side is demanding an apology, claiming that the special prosecutor team leaked call records, and is refusing to cooperate with the investigation. The special prosecutor is investigating the relevance of call records obtained, which show multiple communications between Pastor Kim and former President Yoon Seok-yeol from July to September 2023.
The special prosecutor team is considering the procedure of 'pre-indictment witness examination' if Pastor Kim's side continues to refuse, but has not yet made a decision. Pre-indictment witness examination is a system that allows a judge to be requested to examine a witness before trial if a reference with important information refuses to appear or testify.
The special prosecutor plans to continue investigating individuals related to the 'Stylish Marine' group chat this week. On the 17th at 9:30 a.m., they will summon Lee Gwan-hyung, a former Marine and the initial whistleblower of the rescue lobby allegations, and on the 18th at 9:30 a.m., they will summon Mr. Choi, a businessman, for questioning. The special prosecutor team has also listed Lee Jong-ho, CEO of Black Pearl Invest, who was a member of the group chat, as a subject of investigation, but specific schedules have not yet been determined.
 



scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter