The second comprehensive special investigation team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, is facing challenges as it approaches the end of its investigation period with unresolved key cases. Although the team has indicted around 50 individuals, there is a growing possibility that some unresolved allegations will be transferred to other investigative agencies.
According to legal sources on August 11, the special investigation team is set to conclude its 180-day investigation on August 23 and will announce its final results on August 24. Following the last regular briefing, the team is focusing its efforts this week on selecting individuals for indictment and determining case dispositions. On this day, they also added former National Fire Agency Chief Heo Seok-gon and former Deputy Chief Lee Young-pal to the list of indictments for their alleged involvement in insurrection-related duties.
Some cases that were passed on from the three major special investigations are at risk of remaining unresolved.
A notable example is the allegation involving former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, who is accused of attempting to suppress the investigation into Kim Geon-hee. Although the insurrection special investigation team indicted Park, the first-instance court dismissed the charges, stating they were not subject to investigation. The insurrection special investigation team then sought to transfer the case to the comprehensive special investigation team, but the latter indicated that it would be difficult to conclude the investigation within the remaining time.
The so-called 'Noh Sang-won notebook' allegations involving former Director of the Defense Intelligence Command Noh Sang-won also remain unresolved. The special investigation team has conducted field verifications and interviews to confirm the feasibility of the contents in the notebook, but they are reportedly struggling with proving the facts and applying the law. As the investigation team returns, if they do not decide on indictments by the end of this week, they may consider transferring the case to another investigative agency.
The case involving former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, who is under suspicion for changing the endpoint route of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway, also has an uncertain disposition. The special investigation team summoned Won for about 14 hours of questioning on August 5 and conducted a forensic examination of his mobile phone, keeping open the possibilities of indictment, non-indictment, or transfer.
Recently, new circumstances regarding Won's involvement were revealed in court. An employee from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport testified on August 10 during a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court that Won indicated that if the change plan for Gang Sang-myeon were to proceed, he could be subject to investigation, and he directed a review of the original plan. Evidence was also presented in court suggesting that there were disagreements between the Ministry and the Presidential Office before the project was scrapped, and that the decision to scrap it reflected the intentions of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
As the investigation nears its conclusion, there are cases where the special investigation team has only recently begun questioning key suspects and securing evidence. On this day, they first summoned Lee Jin-woo, a former commander of the Capital Defense Command, as a suspect in connection with the alleged formation of a 'Guardian Task Force (TF).' They also filed for arrest warrants for former National Defense Security Command Chief Hwang Yu-seong and former Marine Corps Intelligence Unit Chief Moon Yeon-cheol regarding allegations of pressure in the investigation of the deceased Marine case.
Discrepancies among the special investigation teams have also added pressure to the handling of unresolved cases. The comprehensive special investigation team has included former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won and former First Guard Command Chief Cho Sung-hyun, who were key witnesses in the insurrection special investigation, as suspects for review. Additionally, there have been conflicting opinions between the two special investigation teams regarding the application of rebellion charges under military law. Although the special investigation law was amended to ensure mutual consultation on matters that could reverse previous judgments or affect the maintenance of charges, discord has persisted during the actual investigation process.
Legal experts have pointed out that while the comprehensive special investigation team may achieve quantitative results through large-scale indictments, a separate evaluation is necessary to determine how effectively it has addressed the unresolved allegations from the three major special investigations. Concerns have also been raised that as the investigation nears its end, the rush to summon key suspects, secure evidence, and determine case dispositions may lead to cases being transferred back to other investigative agencies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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