SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea is abuzz as three high-profile special prosecutor teams rapidly assemble their investigative units to tackle some of the nation's most sensitive cases: allegations of rebellion, controversies surrounding former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and the suspicious death of Marine Corporal Chae. With teams finalizing appointments and securing offices, the "Rebellion Special Prosecutor" is set to begin its work as early as June 17, marking a pivotal moment in the country's legal landscape.
Rebellion Special Prosecutor Requests Extensive Team
Cho Eun-seok, the Special Prosecutor overseeing the investigation into former President Yoon Suk-yeol and others for alleged rebellion and foreign interference, has wasted no time. He officially requested the dispatch of nine high-ranking prosecutors (at the level of Deputy Chief or Chief Prosecutor) from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Cho stated his selections were based on "investigative capability and commitment to duty."
The requested list includes key figures from the existing emergency martial law special investigation headquarters, such as Kim Jong-woo, the Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office; Choi Soon-ho, Chief of Criminal Division 3 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office; and Choi Jae-soon, Deputy Chief of Criminal Information 2 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Also named are Jang Jun-ho, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office; Kim Jung-kook, Chief of Criminal Division 4 at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office; Guk Won, Chief of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Department at the Busan District Prosecutors' Office; Park Hyang-cheol, Chief of the Food and Drug Investigation Department at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office; and Park Ji-hoon, Chief of Criminal Division 5 at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office. Some, like Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jang Jun-ho and Chief Prosecutor Park Ji-hoon, are expected to commence work as early as June 17, signaling a swift start to the rebellion probe.
This team is poised to be exceptionally large, with the Rebellion Special Prosecutor's office authorized to receive up to 60 dispatched prosecutors—the highest number in the history of South Korean special prosecutor investigations. Cho also formally requested the Korean Bar Association to recommend candidates for special prosecutors' assistants by June 17. Historically, special prosecutors often first secure high-ranking prosecutors they have worked with, who then recommend other experienced prosecutors, forming a robust investigation team.
Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor Prioritizes Expertise
Min Joong-ki, the Special Prosecutor assigned to investigate allegations surrounding former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, was the first to complete the selection of special prosecutor assistant candidates. On June 16, Min announced that he had recommended eight candidates for special prosecutor assistants to the Presidential Office on June 15, around 11 p.m. Under the Special Prosecutor Act, each special prosecutor recommends eight candidates to President Lee Jae-myung. The President then appoints six special prosecutor assistants for the Rebellion Special Prosecutor and four each for the Kim Keon-hee and Corporal Chae Special Prosecutors. The President must make these appointments within five days of receiving the request (or three days for the Corporal Chae Special Prosecutor).
Among the recommended candidates for the Kim Keon-hee probe is Moon Hong-joo, a lawyer with a background as a presiding judge. Considering Min's own judicial background, he also included experienced former prosecutors known for their investigative prowess, such as Kim Hyung-geun, Park Sang-jin, and Oh Jung-hee, as special prosecutor assistant candidates. Min plans to finalize requests for administrative support staff within the current week.
Corporal Chae Special Prosecutor Focuses on Military Expertise
Lee Myung-hyun, the Special Prosecutor handling the death of Marine Corporal Chae and alleged external interference in the investigation, is carefully selecting his special prosecutor assistant candidates, prioritizing legal professionals with experience in investigating military suspicious deaths. Lee intends to build his investigation team by receiving dispatches from various agencies, including the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) Investigation Unit 4 (led by Chief Prosecutor Cha Jung-hyun), which has been investigating the Corporal Chae case, as well as military prosecutors and general prosecutors.
Race to Secure Office Space
All three special prosecutor teams are also expediting efforts to secure suitable office spaces. The Rebellion Special Prosecutor is likely to use the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-dong, Seoul. This location has housed the emergency martial law special investigation headquarters since the declaration of emergency martial law in December of last year. Special Prosecutor Cho requested the use of this facility due to the critical importance of security, given the military secrets involved in the rebellion investigation, and the prohibitive cost of finding a private building capable of accommodating the maximum 267-person investigation team. The Special Prosecutor Act mandates that if a special prosecutor requests office space or other facilities from state or public institutions for their duties, the requested institution must comply unless there are legitimate reasons not to.
The other special prosecutor teams are also focusing on finding offices that offer both security and accessibility. The Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor has narrowed down potential office locations to one in Seoul's Gangnam area and another in Gangbuk, with a final decision imminent. The Corporal Chae Special Prosecutor plans to establish an office not far from Seocho-dong for investigative convenience. The rapid mobilization of these special prosecutor teams underscores the gravity of the cases they are tasked with, signaling a period of intense legal scrutiny in South Korea.
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