Future Committee Investigation Team Reports First Findings on Wirye Case and Others, Where "President Lee Was Indicted"

Reportedly said it was "difficult to conclude the probes were unlawful"

Plans to report on the Ssangbangwool remittance and Daejang-dong cases next month

Prosecution Agency circles watch for possible indictment withdrawals

The findings of an investigation by the Ministry of Justice’s Prosecutorial Human Rights and Future Committee (the Future Committee) into allegations of prosecutorial abuse of power in cases including the “Wirye New Town development corruption case,” for which President Lee Jae-myung was indicted, were submitted to committee members on October 15.

That afternoon, the investigation team attended a closed-door meeting of the Future Committee and briefed it on the results of its review of the investigation and indictment processes in three cases: the Wirye case, allegations of statistical manipulation under the Moon Jae-in administration, and the case involving the fatal shooting of a South Korean government employee in the West Sea. The investigations into some of the cases selected for the first round were completed four months after the Future Committee was launched. The team reviewed the investigation and indictment processes, including by questioning the prosecutors who handled the cases in writing. It is understood to have concluded that it was difficult to determine whether prosecutors had acted unlawfully in any of the cases.

Justice Minister Seongho (center) poses for a photograph with the appointed members at the launch ceremony of the Prosecution Human Rights and Future Committee at the Ministry of Justice in the Government Complex Gwacheon on the 10th. Yonhap News Agency

The Future Committee plans to deliberate on whether human rights were violated or authority was abused in the exercise of prosecutorial power, based on the findings it received. If it determines that problems occurred, it can recommend measures to prevent recurrence and provide redress for victims. However, people inside and outside the committee believe it will be difficult to reach a conclusion at today’s meeting.

This is the first time the Future Committee has received investigation findings from its investigation team. Launched in June to investigate allegations of abuse of authority during prosecutorial investigations, the committee selected seven cases for its first round of investigations, including the Wirye, statistical manipulation, and West Sea cases. The investigation team plans to complete its reviews of the remaining cases in the first round by November and report its findings. These include the Ssangbangwool remittance to North Korea case, the Daejang-dong development corruption case, the case involving former Democratic Research Institute deputy head Kim Yong, and allegations of false reporting that defamed Yoon Suk Yeol.

The 12 cases added in August for the second round of investigations are: the Seongnam FC case; the Baekhyeon-dong case; allegations of misuse of Gyeonggi Province corporate credit cards; the case involving Kim Yong and alleged perjury subornation; an allegedly improper search of the law office of former senior prosecutor Im Jeong-hyeok; an investigation ordered by the Moon Jae-in administration into alleged interference in the Ulsan mayoral election; the case involving former President Moon Jae-in’s son-in-law; allegations of politically motivated investigations orchestrated by the Blue House; the travel ban imposed on Kim Hak-ui; the case involving former Daegu Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs Kim Yeon-chang; Coupang’s alleged failure to pay retirement benefits; and unpaid wages at the Daeyu Winia Group. President Lee was indicted in six of these cases.

People within and outside the Prosecution Agency are closely watching whether the Future Committee’s conclusions on prosecutorial abuse of power could lead to the withdrawal of indictments in cases involving President Lee. Observers say that if the committee determines, based on the investigation team’s findings, that serious illegal acts occurred during the investigation and indictment processes in the cases, political discussions on withdrawing the indictments could gain momentum. Lee Jeong-hyun, acting Prosecutor General and head of the Prosecution Agency, which is responsible for filing and maintaining indictments, left the possibility open when asked about withdrawing the indictments against President Lee on his first day commuting to work, September 23. “The investigation team is currently conducting its investigation, so I think we will have to look at the results,” he said, drawing controversy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.