CIO: Cho Hee-dae case was classified as an awareness-notification case, not transferred by police; further investigation in case involving Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun

[Financial News] The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) stressed that the case involving Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae fell under an “awareness-notification” procedure, not a transfer of the case by police. It said additional investigation was still underway in the case involving People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun.
Asked on the 3rd at a regular briefing at the Government Complex Gwacheon whether police had transferred the case involving Chief Justice Cho, a CIO official replied, “It is not a transferred case, but an awareness-notification case.”
The official explained, “When another investigative agency becomes aware of a crime committed by a high-ranking public official, it is required to notify the CIO,” adding, “Once we receive a notification, there is a procedure for deciding whether to investigate and replying.”
The official added that the procedure was not new and said, “We will handle the matter in accordance with the relevant rules to prevent overlapping investigations or gaps in punishment.” However, the official did not specify whether the CIO had actually received such a notification or whether it would conduct a direct investigation.
Regarding the progress of the investigation into the case involving Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, the official said, “Additional investigation is continuing.” The official did not disclose the specific subjects of the investigation or the details of the investigation.
Rep. Yoon is under suspicion of violating the Political Funds Act by receiving, free of charge, video content from a public relations company from 2023 through 2024 for use in party leadership elections and general elections, among other things. The CIO previously summoned and questioned Yoon as a suspect in September.
A complaint concerning allegations that President Lee Jae Myung interfered in the management of the National Pension Service (NPS) fund was also mentioned that day. The CIO had earlier said it assigned the case to Investigation Division 1 on the 27th of last month.
Asked about the schedule for questioning the complainant in the NPS complaint case, a CIO official said, “We have received no information,” adding that the matter would proceed according to the investigation team’s plans.
The official also said the investigation team was continuing its investigation into the case involving former candidate Kim Seung-won.
Asked about Lee Hwa-young’s request for a retrial, the official said, “I cannot discuss the details of the investigation,” but added, “Please wait and see what the investigation finds.” The official gave no specific answer on whether the complaint accusing Supreme Court Justice Rho Tae-ak of dereliction of duty had been assigned.
Meanwhile, the CIO introduced its newly appointed prosecutor Lee Jun-seok that day. Lee, who passed the eighth Korean Bar Examination, was commissioned as a Navy legal officer and primarily handled military prosecution work. After leaving the military, Lee worked as a police officer at Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station before being appointed a prosecutor at the CIO. Lee said, “Having been appointed to an important position, I will do my utmost and bring all my abilities to bear.”
[email protected] Yu Seon-jun, Choi Eun-sol Reporter