The Ministry of Justice's Committee for the Future of Respecting Human Rights in Prosecution (Prosecutors' Future Committee), launched to investigate suspicions of abuse of prosecutorial investigative powers, has selected 12 additional cases for truth-finding investigations, including allegations related to the illegal sponsorship of Seongnam FC involving President Lee Jae-myung.

The committee announced today (the 14th) that it selected a total of 12 additional cases for truth-finding investigations following a review of public proposal cases.

The newly added cases include 4 directly or indirectly related to President Lee: ▲ the Seongnam FC case, ▲ the Baekhyeon-dong development case, ▲ the Gyeonggi Provincial corporate card misuse allegation, and ▲ the subornation of perjury case in the trial of Kim Yong, former deputy head of the Democracy Institute.

In addition, the selection covers ▲ the wrongful seizure and search of former High Prosecutors' Office head Lim Jung-hyuk's law office over "allegations of covering up the Baekhyeon-dong investigation," ▲ the Moon Jae-in administration's election intervention and directed investigation into the Ulsan mayoral election, ▲ the former President Moon Jae-in's son-in-law case, ▲ the presidential office's planned inspection suspicions, ▲ the Kim Hak-oi departure ban case, ▲ former Daegu Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Kim Yeon-chang's case, ▲ the Coupang overdue severance pay investigation, and ▲ the Daeyu Winia Group wage arrears-related case.

The committee explained that the cases were chosen by comprehensively considering the severity of human rights infringement damage, public interest and social repercussions, the necessity of preventing recurrence, and the victims' wishes.

However, because many of the targets involve President Lee and figures from the ruling faction, voices in the legal community are pointing out fairness issues.

Including the cases selected as the first round of investigations, 8 out of the 19 total cases are related to President Lee.

Concerns are also being raised that since a significant number of these cases are currently on trial, the investigations could influence the ongoing court proceedings.

Since its early launch, the committee has faced criticism that it is a preliminary step intended to seek the dismissal of indictments for President Lee's trials.

In particular, the Seongnam FC, Baekhyeon-dong, and Gyeonggi Provincial corporate card cases were reportedly selected for investigation by the committee's own authority.

With the number of targeted cases increasing to 19, concerns have also been raised regarding physical limitations on the truth-finding investigation team.

The core of the Seongnam FC case centers on suspicions that President Lee, during his past tenure as Mayor of Seongnam and owner of the Seongnam FC club from October 2014 to September 2016, received 13.35 billion won in sponsorships from four companies in exchange for administrative favors such as land zoning changes.

The Baekhyeon-dong development corruption suspicion also revolves around allegations that President Lee granted preferential treatment to private developer Jung Bauh, Chairman of Asia Developer, during the Baekhyeon-dong development project in Bundang-gu, thereby causing losses to the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation.

President Lee had been standing trial by consolidating four cases—including development corruption allegations in Daejang-dong, Baekhyeon-dong, and Wirye New Town, as well as the Seongnam FC illegal sponsorship suspicions—before his trials were suspended following his election as president.

The Gyeonggi Provincial corporate card misuse allegation involves claims that President Lee privately used a total of approximately 100 million won in Gyeonggi Province funds, including corporate cards, for dining expenses from July 2018 to October 2021 during his tenure as Gyeonggi Governor. This case remains suspended at the first-trial stage.

The subornation of perjury case involving former Deputy Head Kim pertains to allegations that individuals from President Lee's presidential election camp asked witnesses to testify to a "false alibi" during the trial regarding Kim's violations of the Political Funds Act. An appeals trial is scheduled to take place.

Former High Prosecutors' Office head Lim was indicted on charges of receiving 100 million won in funds from Baekhyeon-dong private developer Jung under the pretext of lobbying or soliciting public officials regarding the Baekhyeon-dong investigation, but was ultimately acquitted.

The preferential hiring suspicion involving former President Moon's son-in-law centers on allegations that former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik, founder of Eastar Jet, hired former President Moon's former son-in-law, surnamed Seo, and provided him with 217 million won under the guise of salaries and relocation expenses.

A first-instance trial is currently underway.

The Ulsan mayoral election intervention case is framed around suspicions that ahead of the 2018 local elections, the presidential office systematically intervened to help former Ulsan Mayor Song Chol-ho—known as a longtime friend of former President Moon Jae-in—win the election.

The committee was launched last June to uncover the truth behind cases where human rights violations or abuses of authority were alleged during the exercise of prosecutorial power, and to recommend measures to prevent recurrence.

As its first round of investigation targets, the committee selected 7 cases: ▲ the Ssangbangwool illegal remittance to North Korea case, ▲ the Daejang-dong case, ▲ the former Democracy Institute Deputy Head Kim Yong case, ▲ the Wirye New Town case, ▲ the West Sea public official shooting case, ▲ the statistics manipulation case, and ▲ the suspected false reporting regarding "Yoon Suk Yeol defamation" case.

Following this, a public contest was held for 5 weeks starting June 16 to select additional truth-finding investigation targets.

Chang Ju-young, chairperson of the Prosecutors' Future Committee, stated, "The committee hopes for a swift and thorough uncovering of the truth from the perspectives of protecting citizens' human rights and exercising legitimate prosecutorial power," adding, "We will rectify past wrongs revealed during the exercise of prosecutorial power and formulate effective preventive measures and institutional improvement plans for the future."

(Photo: Provided by the Ministry of Justice, Yonhap News)