Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Team Launched: "Thorough Investigation With No Sanctuary"

[Financial News] The Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, has been officially launched. Attention is focused on whether the team can resolve the remaining suspicions that the three previous special prosecutor teams, which investigated insurrection, First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and the death of a Marine, failed to fully clarify.
At the inauguration ceremony held on the morning of the 25th at the team’s office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Special Prosecutor Kwon stated, "The special prosecutor team will maintain political neutrality and fairness to the greatest extent possible and will conduct a thorough investigation with no sanctuary, guided solely by the law and the evidence."
Special Prosecutor Kwon noted, "Since the launch of the three special prosecutor teams, many achievements have been made, but the Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Team was created to reflect the public’s view that there were still shortcomings." He went on, "The special prosecutor system, under which specific cases that demand strict neutrality and fairness are investigated by a special prosecutor with independent status, can be called the 'Sword of the Constitution' that protects the Constitution and secures trust in the criminal justice system."
Since his appointment on the 5th, Special Prosecutor Kwon has spent 20 days preparing for the investigation and held the plaque-hanging ceremony on this day. Four deputy special prosecutors took part: Deputy Special Prosecutor Kwon Young-bin of the 31st class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim Jung-min, a 15th-term military legal officer, Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim Ji-mi of the 37th class, and Deputy Special Prosecutor Jin Eul-jong of the 37th class.
The special prosecutor team will handle a total of 17 matters. In cases related to insurrection and treason, the subjects include: former Defense Intelligence Command chief Roh Sang-won’s notebook memo on preparations for December 3 Martial Law; allegations of treason involving the use of armed helicopters to threaten the Northern Limit Line (NLL) and leaflet drops; and whether local governments were prepared to support December 3 Martial Law. Regarding First Lady Kim Keon-hee, the team will investigate suspicions surrounding the relocation of the presidential office and residence to Yongsan and the change of the terminus of the Seoul–Yangpyeong Expressway. After the three special prosecutor teams wrapped up their investigations last November and December, these cases were transferred to the police Special Investigation Headquarters and the military prosecution.
In principle, the team must complete its investigation by May 5. However, the period can be extended twice, if the reasons are reported to the president and the National Assembly at least three days before the deadline. Each extension may be up to 30 days. If fully extended, the investigation can continue until July 4. Including the preparation period, the team can operate for up to 170 days.
Under the Special Prosecutor Act, up to five deputy special prosecutors may be appointed. For now, however, Special Prosecutor Kwon has appointed only four, saying this will help communication within the organization run more smoothly. It is reported that one more deputy may be appointed later if needed.
Among the deputy special prosecutors is Kim Jung-min, a former military legal officer. Because the team’s mandate includes insurrection and treason cases related to the military, a deputy with a military legal background was deemed necessary. Starting in 2004, Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim served as chief prosecutor of the Republic of Korea Army 11th Corps and legal officer of the 8th Maneuver Division, then as military judge at the Republic of Korea Army Headquarters, head of the legal office at First ROK Army (FROKA), and head of the public defender office at the Capital Defense Command, before entering private practice in 2012. In November last year, he served as an advisor to the Constitutional Respect Government Innovation Task Force (TF).
The special prosecutor team will consist of the special prosecutor and deputy special prosecutors, up to 15 prosecutors on secondment, 100 special investigators, and up to 130 government officials on secondment. The team plans to visit, in turn, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the National Office of Investigation, and the Special Investigation Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense, among others, to request their cooperation.
kyu0705@fnnews.com Kim Dong-gyu Reporter