By Jung Min-ho
Woo Byung-woo, one of the key figures behind the Choi Soon-sil scandal, has been arrested over allegations he instructed the state spy agency to monitor government officials and civilians.
The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for Woo early Friday morning. Previously, the court rejected the prosecution’s requests for an arrest warrant for him twice.
Woo is suspected of directing the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to secretly keep tabs on senior government officials, including former presidential inspector Lee Seok-su and former Vice Culture Minister Park Min-kwon, and even civilians such as former Woori Bank CEO Lee Kwang-goo.
Woo, who served as the presidential secretary for civil affairs from May 2014 to October 2016, did so allegedly to help then-President Park Geun-hye keep tight control over her officials and suppress her political opponents.
Prosecutors also accused him of abusing his authority to hide his own illegalities. When Lee Seok-su was looking into allegations Woo helped his son get an easy and safe position with the police during his mandatory military service, Woo allegedly instructed the NIS to keep track of Lee.
Separately, Woo is standing trial on charges of overlooking and covering up the illegal influence-peddling of the former president’s friend Choi Soon-sil.
He is also under suspicion of obstructing the investigation into the 2014 sinking of the ferry Sewol to protect the Park administration.