Song Changjin, Former CIO Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Summoned Over Alleged Interference in Chae Sang-byeong Case Investigation... “I Will Tell the Truth”

[Financial News] The Special Prosecutor Team led by Lee Myeong-hyeon is currently interrogating Song Changjin, former CIO Deputy Chief Prosecutor, over suspicions of interference in the CIO’s investigation. Song has not publicly stated his position regarding the alleged external pressure on the investigation.
Song arrived at the Special Prosecutor Team’s office at approximately 9:19 a.m. on the 29th. When asked by reporters whether he still maintained that he only learned of former Black Pearl Invest CEO Lee Jong-ho’s involvement in the lobbying allegations at a later stage, he briefly responded, “I will tell everything truthfully.”
However, he remained silent when questioned about his stance on the alleged interference or external pressure, as well as the reasons for blocking a warrant request related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The Special Prosecutor Team reportedly discovered that Song, while serving at the CIO in June last year, obstructed the request for search and seizure warrants for Yoon Suk Yeol’s personal mobile phone and the presidential office’s internal lines.
At the time, he is said to have stated during a meeting chaired by CIO Chief Oh Dong-woon that he could not approve the search and communication warrants, and that he would resign if excluded from the approval process.
Additionally, Song is under investigation for alleged perjury before the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. In July last year, he testified before the Legislation and Judiciary Committee regarding external pressure in the Chae Sang-byeong case, claiming he was unaware of former CEO Lee Jong-ho’s involvement. However, records show he previously served as defense counsel for Lee in the DEUTSCH MOTORS INC. stock manipulation case.
The Special Prosecutor Team plans to summon CIO Chief Oh Dong-woon on the 31st. Oh is accused of failing to notify the Supreme Prosecutors' Office for nearly a year about the perjury complaint against Song, which was filed in August last year. Under the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Act (CIO Act), the CIO Chief is required to report any criminal allegations involving CIO prosecutors to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office along with relevant materials.
The Special Prosecutor Team also intends to summon former CIO Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Sun-kyu as a suspect on the 2nd of next month. Kim is suspected of blocking the summoning of individuals related to the Chae Sang-byeong case or expediting the investigation to justify the exercise of a veto against the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act.
Meanwhile, Yi Gwan-hyung, an associate of former CEO Lee Jong-ho and a figure in the lobbying allegations, announced that he will be questioned as a complainant at the Seoul Seocho Police Station on the 4th of next month. In August, Yi filed a complaint alleging that Special Prosecutor Lee Myeong-hyeon and the office of Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker Choo Mi-ae leaked confidential investigation information, claiming that forensic evidence and suspect statements were disclosed externally.

scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter