The special investigation team investigating the Marine Corps Corporal Chae's death and allegations of external pressure has conducted a raid on the Army Headquarters to secure materials.
According to the legal community on the 13th, the special investigation team recently raided the Army Headquarters in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province. It appears to target individuals from the Ministry of National Defense's legal management office, who are believed to have played a role in the recovery of the investigation records regarding Corporal Chae, which had earlier been transferred to the police. Previously, on August 2, 2023, the Marine Corps investigation team transferred former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun as a suspect related to Corporal Chae's death to the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency, after which the military prosecution retrieved the case without proper procedures, sparking controversy.
The special investigation team believes that the Ministry of National Defense's legal affairs office played a significant role in the case recovery. Yu Jae-eun, the then legal management officer at the Ministry of National Defense, is accused of coordinating the presidential office's directives regarding the case recovery while communicating with former Presidential Office Personnel Secretary Lee Si-won, Kim Dong-hyuk, Chief of the Ministry of National Defense's prosecution team, and Noh, the head of the investigation department at the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency.
The special investigation team is also reported to have conducted a raid on Song, who was in a KakaoTalk group called 'Stylish Marines,' alongside former Black Pearl Investment representative Lee Jong-ho, who was involved in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case. Song, who has been discharged from the Marine Corps, is said to have a close relationship with former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun.
As the special investigation team secured materials during the extensive raid, it plans to focus investigative power on analyzing them. Given the series of raids conducted throughout the investigation concerning the so-called 'VIP anger allegations' and 'case recovery allegations,' the team seems determined to concentrate on analyzing the seized items for the time being.
Currently, the special investigation team has commenced work to unlock the password of former President Yoon's personal mobile phone, which was secured during the raid on the 11th. It is reported that former President Yoon transferred the mobile phone to the special investigation team while it was still locked.
There are also plans to conduct interviews with key individuals involved. Earlier, the special investigation team summoned former Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan on the 7th and former Vice Minister of National Security Kim Tae-hyo on the 11th for questioning. Subsequently, face-to-face interviews with other key figures in the case, including former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, former Presidential Defense Secretary Im Gi-hoon, the former secretary, and former management officer Yu, are scheduled to take place.