Yoon Suk Yeol Acquitted in 1st Trial Over 'Lee Jong-seob Flight' Charges... Court Rules 'Cannot Conclude Purpose Was Flight'

[Anchor]

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was put on trial on charges of appointing former Defense Minister Lee Jong-seob—a key suspect in the case of Marine Corporal Chae's death—as the ambassador to Australia to help him flee, has been acquitted in the first trial. The court ruled that it is difficult to conclude there was an intent to obstruct the investigation behind the appointment of former Minister Lee as ambassador.

This is reporter Jeon Yeonnam.

[Reporter]

On March 4, 2024, former Defense Minister Lee Jong-seob was abruptly appointed as the ambassador to Australia.

At the time, former Minister Lee was a key suspect in allegations of external pressure regarding the investigation into Corporal Chae, and was under a travel ban. When the Ministry of Justice lifted the ban and allowed him to leave the country, suspicions of aiding a criminal's flight were raised.

The independent counsel team investigating the allegations regarding Corporal Chae concluded that former Minister Lee was appointed as the ambassador to Australia to conceal the allegations of investigative pressure, and indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges including aiding a criminal's escape in November of last year.

[Jung Minyoung / Assistant Independent Counsel for Corporal Chae (November of last year): Procedures were initiated to send Lee Jong-seob to Australia as ambassador to prevent the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials' investigation from expanding to the president himself and the presidential office.]

However, the first-instance court acquitted former President Yoon today.

[Cho Hyung-woo, Presiding Judge / Seoul Central District Court Criminal Settlement Division 22: Giving instructions for the appointment without any knowledge of the travel ban itself is somewhat insufficient to be viewed as pursuing personnel changes with the intent or purpose of helping him flee.]

The court pointed out that "harboring a criminal refers to preventing investigative agencies from discovering the whereabouts of a criminal," noting that "taking up an ambassadorial post is fundamentally different from a typical criminal flight."

It added, "There is also room to view it as part of the exercise of personnel authority as the head of state."

The court additionally pointed out that there were problems with the sluggish investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials.

All officials from the presidential office's diplomatic and security lines involved in the ambassadorial appointment at the time, as well as Ministry of Justice officials involved in lifting the travel ban, were acquitted.

Former President Yoon's legal team welcomed the ruling, calling it an "entirely natural conclusion," while the independent counsel team stated, "We will thoroughly review the ruling to decide whether to appeal."

(Camera & Video Reporting: Yang Hyun-chul | Video Editing: Lim Yeojin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.