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The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), specifically the Investigation Division 3 led by Lee Dae-hwan, stated on the 7th that it has initiated an inquiry into Prosecutor Park Sang-yong. He is accused of pressuring suspects to obtain particular statements during the investigation into the “Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case” on the 26th of last month. Previously, a member of the public submitted a complaint against Park, alleging that he manipulated legal procedures and improperly hindered the exercise of authority through the misuse of his position.

Dispute continues regarding whether the manipulation of the law is within the CIO’s authority. The CIO Act states that the agency’s investigative power applies to Articles 122 through 133 of the Criminal Act. While the manipulation of the law was introduced as Article 123-2 after an update to the Criminal Act, numerous legal professionals contend that the current CIO Act does not clearly cover it.

In reply, the CIO mentioned, “If the manipulation of the law is examined together with other charges under the CIO’s authority, it is considered a ‘related crime’ according to the CIO Act,” and added, “This aligns with the approach taken during the investigation into former President Yoon Suk-yeol regarding insurrection charges.” The CIO had initially received a complaint against former President Yoon for misuse of power following the December 3 emergency martial law situation and later broadened the inquiry to incorporate insurrection as a related offense. Likewise, while looking into Prosecutor Park’s alleged misuse of power—within the CIO’s authority—the agency plans to also look into the allegations of law distortion as a related violation.

In the meantime, community organizations such as the People’s Economy Research Institute, Seoul’s Voice, and the Lawyers’ Group for Investigating Prosecutors submitted a second detailed complaint to Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-yeong on the 6th. They alleged that Prosecutor Park, former President Yoon Suk-yeol, and others had falsely accused President Lee Jae Myung. These organizations had previously lodged a complaint with the CIO on the 31st of last month, accusing Park of making false accusations, abusing power, inciting malicious perjury, and violating the National Assembly Testimony and Evaluation Act.

Prosecutor Park has been on leave since the 6th.

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