Investigation into Former President Yoon and Security Officials Expands

The investigation into the death of Corporal Chae Soo-geun is set to widen, following testimony from former National Security Office Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo. During a special prosecutor's inquiry on July 11, Kim stated that former President Yoon Suk-yeol reacted with significant anger upon being informed about the incident. This acknowledgment of the so-called 'VIP Anger Theory' marks the first time such claims have been substantiated since allegations of external pressure on the investigation emerged in August 2023. The special prosecutor's office plans to determine whether there was any undue influence from the National Security Office and other entities following Yoon's outburst.

The 'VIP Anger Theory' suggests that during a National Security Office meeting on July 31, 2023, Yoon became furious after learning that the Marine Corps investigation team had applied involuntary manslaughter charges against former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Sung-keun. The investigation will focus on whether Yoon reprimanded then-Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop for approving the investigation results and instructed him not to forward the case to the police. Following Yoon's anger, the Ministry of National Defense retrieved investigation records from the Gyeongbuk Police Agency and excluded Lim from the list of suspects before resending the case to the police. The military prosecution had previously charged Colonel Park Jeong-hoon, the head of the Marine Corps investigation team, with insubordination for proceeding with the case despite Yoon's directives.

In this context, Kim Tae-hyo testified that Yoon expressed anger after receiving a report from former Defense Secretary Lim Gi-hoon regarding Corporal Chae's case, which was not initially on the meeting agenda. This contradicts Kim's previous statement in July 2022, where he claimed there was no report or anger during the meeting.

The special prosecutor's office is accelerating its investigation into former National Security Office Chief Cho Tae-yong and other officials who have denied the anger theory. Cho previously stated in the National Assembly that the Chae Soo-geun case was not reported during the meeting, while former Minister Lee Jong-seop claimed he had never witnessed Yoon's anger. Former Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan stated during the investigation that he could not recall the events but acknowledged that the testimonies from his subordinates regarding the anger were likely not false. Colonel Park has consistently testified that he heard from Kim that Yoon expressed concern about punishing the division commander over such matters.

The special prosecutor's office aims to clarify the communications between Cho Tae-yong, Lim Gi-hoon, and other officials regarding directives exchanged with Lee Jong-seop and Yu Jae-eun, the legal officer at the Ministry of National Defense. They are also investigating whether individuals like Lee Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Investment, lobbied First Lady Kim Geon-hee on behalf of Lim, which may have contributed to Yoon's anger upon receiving updates from the Marine Corps investigation team. Recently, the special prosecutor's office conducted searches at the homes of individuals involved in discussions about lobbying for Lim.

Additionally, the investigation is looking into the appointment of Lee Jong-seop as the South Korean ambassador to Australia in March 2023, while he was under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO). There are suspicions that Yoon may have attempted to obstruct the CIO investigation by appointing Lee as ambassador. At the time of his appointment, Lee was under a travel ban due to the ongoing investigation. Allegations have surfaced that Yoon directed Lee's appointment and that presidential aides later coordinated with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to lift the travel ban. The special prosecutor's office has summoned officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate these claims. Reports indicate that the special prosecutor's office is also looking into former presidential aides Lee Won-mo and Choi Ji-hyun. However, some officials from the Yoon administration argue that viewing the president's personnel decisions as inherently illegal is an unreasonable perspective.