Prosecution calls for heavy penalties for ex-inspector

Jeong Byeong-ha, chief of the Inspection Headquarters at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, enters a press room at the office in Seoul, Thursday, to announce the results of a month-long investigation into misconduct allegations linked to Kim Tae-woo, a form

By Kang Seung-woo

The prosecution has decided to seek severe disciplinary action against a former presidential office inspector over a series of irregularities, including leaking confidential information.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office's (SPO) Inspection Headquarters made the decision, Thursday, after it investigated a series of allegations linked to Kim Tae-woo, a former special inspector from the prosecution, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 24.

What constitutes severe discipline ranges from suspension of duty to dismissal, and the disciplinary committee of the SPO, not the district office where he originally belonged, will make the final decision.

However, the inspection team has decided not to request a criminal investigation of Kim, given that the prosecution has already investigated the former inspector with regard to some allegations.

According to the prosecution, Kim's misconduct such as disclosing classified information, playing golf with businessmen and getting them to pay for it deserve heavy penalties.

“Kim breached his confidentiality obligation as a special inspector of Cheong Wa Dae by leaking to local media outlets classified information that he collected while working at the presidential office,” the SPO said in a press statement.

Kim was ordered to return to his original post at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office last month following this misconduct. Since then, he has released various pieces of information to media, including one about Woo Yoon-keun, the Korean ambassador to Russia and a former lawmaker.

He said he reported bribery allegations about Woo to his superiors, and claims his reports on the ambassador, a close aide to President Moon Jae-in, must have removed him from Cheong Wa Dae ― although the presidential office denies it.

Kim also claimed he was ordered to monitor civilians from the Cheong Wa Dae superiors, allegations which the presidential office strongly denied.

As a result, Cheong Wa Dae filed a criminal complaint against Kim, accusing him of making false accusations and releasing confidential information obtained during his time at the presidential office.

Also, the prosecution's inspection team found that the former inspector played golf with his acquaintance and builder surnamed Choi five times and received “inappropriate” treatment worth 2.6 million won, which was in breach of the anti-graft law.

The month-long review also revealed that Kim had tried to land a job at the Ministry of Science and ICT, which was under his supervision for possible corruption. In fact, he encouraged the ministry to create a post there and the ministry was planning to hire him, an attempt which eventually failed because his superiors at Cheong Wa Dae learned about this and prevented it.

Kim was also found to have sought to influence the outcome of a police probe into a bribery case involving his acquaintance.

“This October, Kim made an appointment with a ranking police officer to interfere in the investigation, while trying to secure information from police,” the prosecution said.

In response to the prosecution's announcement, Kim's side said he would prove his innocence at the disciplinary committee.

“Many of the prosecution's findings are not true,” Kim's attorney said.

“Although it may take time and pain to uncover the truth, Kim believes that the truth does not change.”

Kim was dispatched to Cheong Wa Dae in July 2017.

Meanwhile, the environment ministry admitted, Thursday, it had authored a document on whether senior officials at the ministry-affiliated organizations were planning to quit or not.

The confession came hours after the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) claimed the creation of the list, Wednesday, saying the Moon Jae-in administration planned to sack those officials, mostly appointed by the former Park Geun-hye administration, and fill the posts with people close to the current government.

The ministry, which initially denied the accusation, said it was made at the request of Kim in January, but added that it was handed over to him without reporting to its minister or vice minister.

In response, the LKP said it would file a complaint against current and former ministry officials, including former Minister Kim Eun-kyung.