One month into reinvestigation, prosecutors still struggle to identify key suspects


After a month of reinvestigation into alleged spying on civilians by the Prime Minister’s Office, prosecutors are still struggling to identify the higher-ups who ordered the surveillance and its cover-up.

According to Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, more than 20 people have been questioned for allegedly playing a role in the illegal surveillance of scores of citizens including businessmen, politicians, celebrities and others critical of the administration.

Only three people have been arrested so far.

Lee Young-ho, a former presidential secretary for employment and labor affairs who claimed to be the mastermind of the scheme, is accused of ordering the PMO ethics division to delete surveillance data right before the initial investigation was launched in 2010.

Choi Jong-seok, a former aide of Lee at Cheong Wa Dae, is suspected of offering 40 million won ($35,000) to a low-ranking PMO official, Jang Jin-su, to buy his silence.

Jang, who blew the whistle on the scandal, confessed that he was directed to discard the data two days prior to the prosecution raid initiated by the revelations of Kim Jong-ik, a businessman who was claimed to have been spied on by the government after posting several articles critical of the Lee Myung-bak administration’s resumption of U.S. beef imports in 2008. The prosecution in 2010 concluded that there was no one behind the surveillance but had to reopen the case as Jang exposed the “secret” earlier this year.

The investigators are hoping to press charges against Jin Kyung-rak, a former chief of planning for the ethics division of the PMO, for directing the deletion of key information. Jin, who has been under arrest for nearly a month, claimed innocence.

“The problem is that there is little evidence to prove Jang’s allegations,” a prosecutor told a local daily.

So far investigators have secured 50 million won in bundles of banknotes sealed with government stamps; telecommunication records from the Cheong Wa Dae civic affairs department calling up the PMO ethics department 160 times between June 29 and July 9, 2010; and testimony from Jang. The prosecutors assumed the 50 million won to be more hush money for others involved in the case.

But they have failed to trace the source of the money while relevant figures have been denying involvement.

“If they do not come to light, it will be impossible for us to verify the scandal,” the prosecutor added.

Park Geun-hye, leader of the ruling Saenuri Party vowed to appoint a special prosecutor to delve into the case and said the party will seek to implement a law against illegal surveillance.

The National Human Rights Commission last week said it would launch an independent investigation into the case.

“Though the prosecution has been keen on the issue, little progress has been made and the public is still dubious about the possible outcome,” the independent human rights watchdog said.

“Spying on civilians is a grave human rights infringement.”

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)