The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is conducting a search and seizure at the Presidential Records Center of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in Sejong City on the 10th in relation to the allegation of external pressure on the investigation of the deceased Marine.
The CIO investigation team for the Marine Corps casualty case, led by Director General Cha Jeong-hyun, noted in a notice sent to reporters, "We are conducting a search and seizure at the Presidential Records Center from the afternoon."
The allegations of external pressure on the investigation of the deceased Marine are related to the death of Corporal Cha Soo-geun, who drowned while participating in a search operation for missing persons after a flood in Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang Province, in July 2023. Allegations have been raised that former President Yoon Suk-yeol and officials from the presidential office and the Ministry of National Defense exercised external pressure in the process of the Marine investigation team, which investigated this case, transferring responsibility for the death of Corporal Cha to former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun and others to the police.
Former Marine Corps investigation team commander Park Jeong-hoon (colonel), who was in charge of the initial investigation, received instructions from superiors to withhold the transfer of investigative materials to the police but did not follow them. Subsequently, he revealed that "President Yoon Suk-yeol was reported to have been enraged after receiving a report on the investigation team's findings," which escalated the allegations.
The CIO is reported to have launched a search and seizure operation to secure the minutes of the National Security Council meeting and entry records from July 31, 2023, the day former President Yoon was identified as having been enraged.