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Civic group files complaint against husband of lawmaker opposing new agency chief
Коротко
A civic group filed a complaint with South Korea’s Serious Crimes Investigation Agency against Lee Jong-geun, a lawyer and husband of Cho Kuk Innovation Party lawmaker Park Eun-jung, on charges including abuse of authority and violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act. The group alleges Lee, a former chief prosecutor, steered or blocked past prosecutorial investigations. Lee’s response was not reported, and Park has publicly opposed the appointment of Kim Ji-yong as the agency’s first chief.
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A civic group filed a complaint with South Korea’s Serious Crimes Investigation Agency against Lee Jong-geun, a lawyer and former chief prosecutor who is the husband of Cho Kuk Innovation Party lawmaker Park Eun-jung, Yonhap reported. The complaint cites abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights, in an aiding capacity, as well as violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act. Newsis also reported the filing, describing it as a complaint over abuse-of-authority allegations against Park’s husband. [ 1 , 2 ]
The group, Citizens’ Action for Judicial Justice, announced the complaint at a press conference in front of the agency’s headquarters and its Seoul district office in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of Oct 6. [ 1 ]
According to the group, Lee gave lenient treatment to prosecutors implicated in the 2019 “Lime Asset Management drinking entertainment” case while he was head of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office criminal division in 2020. Yonhap reported that Kim Bong-hyun, former chairman of Star Mobility and a central figure in the Lime affair, treated three prosecutors to drinks at an entertainment bar in July 2019; two were not indicted because the amounts involved were under 1 million won, and one was tried for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The group also alleges Lee used his influence over the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office, which handled the graft allegations against those prosecutors, to obstruct the lawful exercise of investigative powers. [ 1 ]
The group further claims that Lee, as criminal division head, was involved in past prosecutorial failures to properly investigate former President Yoon Suk-yeol, Kim Keon-hee and Choi Eun-soon. It also alleges he was involved in the “V Global coin fraud” case while serving as criminal division head and later defended people connected to it after leaving office, which it cites as the basis for the Attorney-at-Law Act charge. [ 1 ]
The filing comes as Lee’s wife, Park Eun-jung, publicly opposes the appointment of Kim Ji-yong as the agency’s first chief, saying Kim comes from the prosecution’s senior ranks, opposed legislation to remove prosecutors’ investigation powers and showed pro-Yoon conduct. Kim has said the “pro-Yoon prosecutor” framing is not accurate. [ 1 ]
The documents do not report any response from Lee Jong-geun to the allegations, nor any decision by the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency on whether to investigate. [ 1 , 2 ]
Почему это важно
The complaint is filed with the new Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, the body whose first chief is currently at the centre of a political dispute, and it targets a relative of a lawmaker leading opposition to that appointment. The documents do not say whether the agency will open an investigation, so the immediate effect is political rather than legal.
Ключевые факты
- A civic group filed a complaint with the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency against Lee Jong-geun, a lawyer and husband of lawmaker Park Eun-jung, on Oct 6. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The complaint cites abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights (aiding) and violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act. [ 1 ]
- Lee is a former chief prosecutor who served as head of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office criminal division. [ 1 ]
- The group alleges Lee gave lenient treatment to prosecutors implicated in the 2019 “Lime Asset Management drinking entertainment” case. [ 1 ]
- The group also alleges Lee was involved in past failures to properly investigate Yoon Suk-yeol, Kim Keon-hee and Choi Eun-soon, and in the “V Global coin fraud” case and later defence of those involved. [ 1 ]
- Park Eun-jung has publicly opposed Kim Ji-yong’s appointment as the agency’s first chief, saying he is a senior prosecution figure who opposed removing prosecutors’ investigation powers and showed pro-Yoon conduct. [ 1 ]
- Kim Ji-yong has said the “pro-Yoon prosecutor” framing is not true. [ 1 ]
Подтверждено несколькими источниками
- A civic group filed a complaint with the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency against Lee Jong-geun, the husband of lawmaker Park Eun-jung, on charges including abuse of authority. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lee Jong-geun is a lawyer and former chief prosecutor, and the spouse of lawmaker Park Eun-jung. [ 1 ]
- Park Eun-jung has publicly opposed the appointment of Kim Ji-yong as the agency’s first chief. [ 1 ]
- Kim Ji-yong has disputed the characterisation of him as a pro-Yoon prosecutor. [ 1 ]
Пока неясно
- No response from Lee Jong-geun to the allegations is reported. Both documents describe the filing only; neither carries a reply from Lee.
- It is not known whether the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency will open an investigation into the complaint. The documents report the filing but give no decision or statement from the agency.
- Whether Kim Ji-yong will be appointed as the agency’s first chief is unresolved. The documents describe Park’s opposition and Kim’s denial, but no appointment outcome.
- The allegations themselves are untested claims by a civic group. The complaint is filed and reported; no court or investigative finding is described.