Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Team Confirms Evidence of 'Investigation Obstruction' by CIO... Oh Dong-woon to Be Summoned

[Financial News] The Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Team, led by Lee Myeong-hyeon, has detected acts of obstruction by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) during the investigation into the Chae Sang-byeong case and has launched a formal inquiry.
On the 27th, Deputy Special Prosecutor Jeong Min-young stated, "We have confirmed evidence that the CIO indeed interfered with the investigation related to Chae Sang-byeong."
The special prosecutor team is examining why the CIO, which began investigating the Chae Sang-byeong case in August 2023, failed to achieve substantial results and delayed the investigation for over a year and a half.
Deputy Special Prosecutor Jeong confirmed these circumstances and reported that last year, Kim Sun-kyu, former head of Investigation Division 1 who served as acting CIO chief in the first half of the year, was booked along with Song Changjin, former head of Investigation Division 2. Both have been charged with abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights. The special prosecutor team plans to question them as suspects soon.
The allegations surfaced during an investigation into perjury by former prosecutor Song, revealing that the CIO investigation team faced both internal and external pressure. The special prosecutor team has newly identified and is investigating this. A team official explained, "We have found evidence that instructions from those who acted as CIO chief and deputy chief could be considered pressure on the investigation team," adding, "It has not yet been confirmed what external factors may have been involved."
Additionally, the special prosecutor team plans to summon Oh Dong-woon, CIO chief, this week for questioning on charges of dereliction of duty. Oh is reported to have written and submitted a report last year asserting the innocence of former Division 2 chief prosecutor Song, even though Park Seok-il, former head of Investigation Division 3, had been assigned Song's indictment case.
According to Article 25 of the CIO Act, the CIO chief must notify the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea upon discovering criminal suspicions involving CIO prosecutors. The special prosecutor team believes Oh Dong-woon deliberately failed to report Song's case to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea after assigning it, and is investigating accordingly. Oh Dong-woon is currently listed as a suspect.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team is also questioning Kim Daeki, former Chief Presidential Secretary, Park, former prosecutor, and Im Seong-geun, former division commander. Kim Daeki is being questioned as a witness regarding the appointment process of Lee Jong-sup, former Minister of National Defense, as ambassador to Australia. Park is a suspect on charges of dereliction of duty related to external pressure on the investigation, while Im Seong-geun is a suspect in the Chae Sang-byeong death case for professional negligence resulting in death.

theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter