Seven, Including Lee Jong-sup and Im Seong-geun, Face Arrest... Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Team at a Turning Point

[Financial News] The Special Prosecutor Team, led by Lee Myeong-hyeon, has moved to secure the custody of seven key suspects, including former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup. As the investigation increasingly points toward former President Yoon Suk Yeol, the momentum of the probe is expected to hinge on whether these suspects are detained.
On the morning of the 23rd, Jeong Jae-uk, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, began the pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) for former Minister Lee at 10:10 a.m.
When appearing in court for the detention review, Lee Jong-sup was asked by reporters whether he admitted to any of the charges listed in the warrant. He replied, “I do not admit to any of them.” When further questioned about whether he acknowledged leading the alleged external pressure on the investigation into Chae Sang-byeong’s death, he simply stated, “I will explain in detail in court.”
On the 20th, the Special Prosecutor Team requested an arrest warrant for Lee Jong-sup on six charges, including abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights. At the time of Chae Sang-byeong’s death, Lee was the head of the MND and is accused of intervening to prevent the initial investigation results by the ROK Marine Corps from being transferred to the police.
The Special Prosecutor Team believes that Lee Jong-sup either directed or was involved in a series of actions, including the dismissal and investigation for insubordination of then-ROK Marine Corps investigative commander Colonel Park Jung-hoon, the transfer of the case to the MND Investigation Headquarters, and pressure to downplay the findings. In particular, after learning of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s reported ‘anger,’ Lee is believed to have ordered the suspension and retrieval of case files that had been transferred to the police between July and August 2023.
On this day, detention warrant hearings for other individuals implicated in the alleged external pressure on the investigation are also being held. Park Jin-hee, former military aide; Kim Dong-hyuk, former chief prosecutor; Yoo Jae-eun, former legal affairs director; and Kim Gye-hwan, former ROK Marine Corps commandant, are all accused of involvement in the transfer and retrieval of the case and the investigation into Colonel Park.
Im Seong-geun, former commander of the 1st Division of the ROK Marine Corps, and Choi Jin-gyu, former commander of the 11th Artillery Battalion, are also undergoing detention reviews on charges including occupational negligence resulting in death. Im Seong-geun, who was the superior officer of Chae Sang-byeong when he died during a flood rescue operation in Yecheon County on July 19, 2023, is accused of failing to provide life jackets and other safety equipment and ordering a risky search operation. He is also charged with violating the Military Criminal Act by directly ordering the search as the original unit commander, even after operational control had been transferred to the Army due to the heavy rain. Choi Jin-gyu is accused of ordering a so-called ‘below the waist’ search on July 18, the day before Chae’s death.
Since the Special Prosecutor Team began its investigation in July, no suspects have been arrested or indicted. Previously, in July, the arrest warrant for former ROK Marine Corps Commandant Kim Gye-hwan was denied, with the court stating that concerns about evidence destruction did not exceed the right to a defense.
With little time left in the investigation period, securing the custody of these key figures is expected to accelerate further investigations and indictments. Conversely, if most or all warrants are denied, the process of extending the investigation period and pursuing indictments may lose momentum.
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter