Special Prosecutor Indicts Senior Officials Over Lee Jong-sup’s Escape... Yoon Suk Yeol, Cho Tae-yong, Park Sung-jae, Sim Woo-jung Among Six to Stand Trial

[Financial News] The Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Team, led by Lee Myeong-hyeon, has indicted six key figures, including former President Yoon Suk Yeol, in connection with the alleged escape of former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup to Australia.
On the 27th, the Special Prosecutor Team announced that former President Yoon was indicted without detention on charges of aiding and abetting escape, abuse of authority, and violating the State Public Officials Act. Others indicted include former Director of the Office of National Security Cho Tae-yong, former First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jang Ho-jin, former Secretary to the President for Public Office Discipline Lee Si-won, former Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae, and former Vice Minister of Justice Sim Woo-jung.
The allegations of Lee Jong-sup’s escape to Australia stem from an incident last year. At the time, Lee, a key suspect in the Chae Sang-byeong death case and under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), was appointed as Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Australia and subsequently left the country.
Although Lee was subject to an exit ban, the restriction was lifted just four days after his appointment as ambassador. He soon assumed his post in Australia, but as public opinion in Korea worsened, he returned after 11 days and resigned shortly thereafter.
Former President Yoon is accused of ordering Lee’s appointment as ambassador in November 2023 to facilitate his escape to Australia. The Special Prosecutor concluded that Yoon gave this order out of concern that the investigation into Lee would eventually expand to implicate himself.
The Special Prosecutor further found that, following Yoon’s instructions, the Office of National Security (ONS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Justice (MOJ) sequentially supported Lee’s appointment and departure.
Former Director Cho and former Vice Minister Jang are accused of pressuring the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite the ambassadorial change at Yoon’s direction. Former Secretary Lee is alleged to have amended the personnel verification report in Lee Jong-sup’s favor, thereby facilitating the appointment process.
Former Minister Park and former Vice Minister Sim are accused of lifting the exit ban on Lee Jong-sup and enabling his overseas travel, despite opposition from the CIO. The Special Prosecutor concluded that the two had already decided to lift the ban before the Exit Ban Review Committee convened and ensured this decision was carried out.
As for Lee Jae-yu, former head of the Korea Immigration Service, who conveyed the order to lift the exit ban, the prosecution decided on a suspension of indictment, citing cooperation with the investigation.
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter