The Special Prosecutor Team, led by Lee Myung-hyun, investigating the alleged "lobbying for salvation" by former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Sung-geun, who has been identified as a key figure in the alleged external pressure on the investigation into the death of Marine Corporal Chae, significantly broadened its investigative scope on the 18th by launching extensive search and seizures targeting political circles and the Protestant community. This raid follows the special prosecutor team's judgment that the lobbying circumstances surrounding former Commander Lim extend to the Presidential Office, and attention is now focused on the future direction of the investigation.
Key Political Figure, Rep. Lee Chul-gyu, Under Search and Seizure
Early this morning, the special prosecutor team dispatched prosecutors and investigators to the home and National Assembly office of People Power Party lawmaker Lee Chul-gyu to conduct search and seizures. Rep. Lee is a witness in the alleged lobbying for former Commander Lim's salvation, and the special prosecutor team is reportedly already in possession of call records between Rep. Lee and individuals involved in the alleged lobbying from July to August 2023, when Marine Corporal Chae's death occurred. This suggests the possibility of Rep. Lee's involvement in an organized effort to help former Commander Lim avoid criminal charges. Rep. Lee has previously demonstrated close ties with powerful figures, and this search and seizure is interpreted as a signal of an intense investigation beyond simple witness questioning.
Extensive Search and Seizures in Protestant Community: Pastor Kim Jang-hwan, Marine Chaplain Baek, Yoido Full Gospel Church, etc.
The special prosecutor team believes that Protestant figures were deeply involved in the lobbying for former Commander Lim's salvation, and simultaneously conducted search and seizures at the residence of Far East Broadcasting Chairman Kim Jang-hwan, Marine Corps Chaplain Baek (Major), and Yoido Full Gospel Church. Pastor Kim Jang-hwan's residence and the Far East Broadcasting office in Mapo-gu, Seoul, were included in the search and seizure targets. This strongly suggests the possibility that Pastor Kim was utilized as a lobbying channel to the Presidential Office, given his known close relationship with former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife. The special prosecutor team has detected circumstances where former Commander Lim's spouse allegedly made requests to Pastor Kim through acquaintances, and plans to intensively confirm whether Pastor Kim subsequently requested former President Yoon and his wife for former Commander Lim's salvation.
Chaplain Baek's residence was also subject to search and seizure. Chaplain Baek is identified as the person who had a phone conversation with former Commander Lim on July 31, 2023, the day instructions were given to delay rather than transfer the initial investigation records of Marine Corporal Chae's death to the police. The special prosecutor team plans to uncover the connection between this phone call and the alleged lobbying for former Commander Lim's salvation.
Furthermore, the special prosecutor team also searched Yoido Full Gospel Church in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and it is reported that Pastor Lee Young-hoon, the senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, was also included in the search and seizure targets. The special prosecutor team has detected circumstances where these and other Christian figures and Far East Broadcasting executives made requests to the Presidential Office for former Commander Lim's salvation, and focused on securing related materials. The search and seizure warrant issued today explicitly states charges against former Commander Lim, including occupational negligence resulting in death or injury and abuse of power, clearly linking former Commander Lim's charges with the alleged lobbying for salvation.
Lawyer Close to Former President Yoon Also Subject to Search and Seizure
The search and seizure targets also notably included the residence and office of lawyer Ko Suk. Lawyer Ko is a fellow 23rd class judicial trainee with former President Yoon and previously served as the Chief Judge of the High Military Court of the Ministry of National Defense. He ran in the last general election in Gyeonggi Yongin-byeong as a candidate for the People Power Party but was not elected. The search and seizure of lawyer Ko's premises suggests the possibility that legal professionals, especially those with close ties to the President, were involved in the lobbying for former Commander Lim's salvation.
"Circumstances Confirming Lobbying Connected to the President or Individuals Around the Presidential Office"
Special Prosecutor Jeong Min-young for Marine Corporal Chae's case held a briefing at the special prosecutor's office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, this morning and stated, "We have confirmed circumstances where lobbying for former Commander Lim's salvation was connected through various channels, starting from former Commander Lim and his surrounding figures, to the President or individuals around the Presidential Office." This statement clearly indicates that this investigation goes beyond mere lobbying allegations and aims to uncover the direct involvement of the Presidential Office.
Based on the evidence secured through today's search and seizures, the special prosecutor team plans to swiftly summon and question the individuals involved in the case. Previously, the special prosecutor team also conducted search and seizures on Lee Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Investment, categorized as a close associate of First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and Song Ho-jong, a former Presidential Security Service official. Thus, attention is focused on whether the full extent of the alleged lobbying for former Commander Lim's salvation will soon be revealed.
Core Link in Lobbying Allegations: Involvement of First Lady Kim Keon-hee's Associate
The core of the lobbying allegations revealed so far is that Lee Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Investment and an associate of First Lady Kim Keon-hee, allegedly conspired with members of "Meotjaenghaebyeong," an online group chat for Marine Corps reservists, to influence the investigation through the First Lady, to prevent former Commander Lim, who was the unit commander at the time of Marine Corporal Chae's death, from being punished. This search and seizure is expected to play a decisive role in uncovering the truth of these allegations and determining whether the Presidential Office was directly involved in this lobbying.
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