'Key Figure in Investigation Pressure Allegations' Lee Jong-sup and Others to Face Arrest Warrant Review on the 23rd

[Financial News] Key suspects for whom special prosecutor Lee Myeong-hyeon's team requested arrest warrants—including former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup—will face decisions on their detention on the 23rd.
According to the legal community on the 20th, Jeong Jae-uk, a judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, will hold a pretrial detention warrant hearing for Lee Jong-sup at 10:10 a.m. on the 23rd. On the same day, Yoo Jae-eun, former legal affairs director at the Ministry of National Defense, will be heard at 1:00 p.m.; Kim Dong-hyuk, former chief prosecutor at the Ministry of National Defense, at 2:20 p.m.; Park Jin-hee, former military aide at the Ministry of National Defense, at 3:40 p.m.; and Kim Gye-hwan, former Marine Corps Commander, at 5:00 p.m.
The special prosecutor charged Lee Jong-sup with abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights. Additional charges include invalidation of official documents, fabrication and use of false official documents, perjury, disclosure of official secrets, and falsification and use of electronic public records.
Kim Dong-hyuk, Yoo Jae-eun, and Kim Gye-hwan, all known as close associates of Lee Jong-sup, also face abuse of authority charges. Park Jin-hee is additionally charged with violating the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly.
Jeong Min-young, assistant special prosecutor for the Chae Sang-byeong case, explained, "The special prosecutor has confirmed how improper investigative pressure was exerted by the presidential office and the Ministry of National Defense. Several suspects who held key public positions are believed to have conspired to commit abuses of authority during the case proceedings." He added, "Given that the criminal facts have been substantiated, the seriousness of the offenses, and the risk of evidence destruction, it is necessary to proceed with the investigation while the suspects are in custody."
Lee Jong-sup, the central figure in the investigation pressure allegations, was overseeing defense affairs at the time of Sergeant Chae’s death and is accused of unlawfully intervening to prevent the Marine Corps investigation’s initial findings from being transferred to the police. Park Jin-hee is suspected of relaying instructions to exert pressure while maintaining close contact with Lee Jong-sup and Kim Gye-hwan during the investigation into the Chae Sang-byeong case from July to August 2023.
Kim Dong-hyuk is accused of retrieving case records transferred by the Marine Corps investigation team to the police without a search and seizure, and of exerting undue influence during the Ministry of National Defense’s review process. Yoo Jae-eun allegedly requested the Marine Corps to reduce the number of suspects and improperly intervened in the review of records by the investigation headquarters.
Kim Gye-hwan, who was the top commander of the Marine Corps at the time, is accused of pressuring Park Jung-hoon, the then chief of the Marine Corps investigation team (Colonel), during the initial investigation and committing perjury. An arrest warrant had previously been requested for Kim Gye-hwan, but it was dismissed.

scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter