Investigations have been launched into allegations that prosecutors coerced key witnesses to indict Lee Jae Myung, then-leader of the Democratic Party, during the probe into the Double Dragon North Korea Remittance Case. Both the second comprehensive special investigation team, led by special prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) have initiated their inquiries.
The Seoul High Prosecutor’s Office’s Human Rights Violation Inspection Task Force (TF), established for internal oversight, is also examining potential misconduct during the investigation. This indicates that all investigative agencies are now scrutinizing the prosecution’s actions from three years ago.
Legal sources revealed on Tuesday that the comprehensive special investigation team confirmed attempts by Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidential office to intervene in the Double Dragon North Korea Remittance Case during a briefing the previous day.
The team recently took over the witness coercion allegations from the Seoul High Prosecutor’s Office TF, based on Article 2 of the Special Prosecutor Act. Evidence suggests that former President Yoon or Kim Keon Hee received reports about the North Korea remittance case and allegedly directed or assisted in pressuring former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young.
Article 2 of the Special Prosecutor Act defines investigation targets as cases where the former president and his spouse received reports on investigations involving themselves or others, and allegedly violated legal procedures through concealment, coercion, evidence manipulation, or abuse of investigative authority.
The comprehensive special investigation team has effectively identified former President Yoon as the ultimate authority in the Double Dragon North Korea Remittance Case and related witness coercion allegations. Recent testimonies have emerged suggesting involvement of a secretary from Yoon’s presidential office in the North Korea remittance case.
On April 3, National Intelligence Service chief Lee Jong-seok testified before the National Assembly’s Special Committee. He stated that the Office of the Secretary for Public Discipline became involved after media reports suggested that North Korea’s United Front Department and Asia-Pacific Committee were not subject to financial sanctions, unlike the Workers’ Party of Korea, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s interpretation.
Lee reported that then-Secretary for Public Discipline Lee Si-won questioned the Ministry’s interpretation and sought to have the National Security Office lead in establishing sanctions criteria. This raised suspicions of the former secretary overstepping his authority by interfering in investigations.
During this period, the United Nations (UN) Security Council imposed sanctions against direct cash transfers to North Korea. The former secretary allegedly attempted to apply charges related to violations of the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act to the North Korea remittance case.
The ACRC has assigned the investigation of allegations that Deputy Prosecutor Park Sang-yong of the Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office coerced former Vice Governor Lee to its third investigation division.
A recent complaint to the ACRC accused Prosecutor Park of distorting the law and abusing his authority, alleging intentional misrepresentation of legal principles during his duties.
Attorney Seo Min-seok, representing the former vice governor, released a recording where Park allegedly stated on June 19, 2023 that it needs a statement that can hold up in court, adding that in reality, Lee Jae Myung must fully admit to being the main culprit, and this person must confess to being an accomplice for them to proceed.
The Seoul High Prosecutor’s Office TF is also investigating potential misconduct by prosecutors during the North Korea remittance investigation.
Last July, the Ministry of Justice formed a separate inspection team within the Correctional Headquarters to analyze relevant materials. On May 17, 2023, they reported that video footage from Prosecutor’s Office Room 1313 showed former Vice Governor Lee and others consuming Korean rice bowls and salmon sushi while drinking soju from paper cups.
Following this, Justice Minister Jeong Sung-ho ordered an inspection in September. The Supreme Prosecutor’s Office promptly established a Human Rights Violation Inspection Task Force at the Seoul High Prosecutor’s Office, which has been investigating related allegations for over seven months. The Ministry of Justice suspended Prosecutor Park from his duties on Monday, fueling speculation about imminent disciplinary action.
Investigators are also re-examining the prosecution’s actions related to the Daejang-dong Development Corruption Allegations.
On Tuesday, Justice Minister Jeong Sung-ho testified before the National Assembly’s Special Committee, stating that it received inspection requests regarding prosecutors involved in the Daejang-dong development case on four occasions from September to December last year. He noted that the inspection targets included nine prosecutors from the second investigation team who handled the case from 2022 to 2024.
The inspections reportedly began based on allegations of coercive tactics similar to those in the North Korea remittance investigation. The Daejang-dong case inspection is also being conducted by the Seoul High Prosecutor’s Office TF.