The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is attempting to conduct raids on the National Security Office and the Presidential Secretariat regarding allegations of external pressure in the investigation of a Marine’s death deemed in the line of duty.
On the 7th, the CIO informed the press about their current effort to search and seize evidence in connection with what’s being called the ‘external pressure case’ involving the investigation of the deceased Marine.
This controversy is linked to the death of Sergeant Chae Soo-geun, who died in July 2023 during a search operation for missing persons after floods in Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang Province. The Marine Corps investigation team identified former Marine Division 1 commander Lim Sung-geun and others as responsible and handed the case over to the police. Allegations surfaced that former President Yoon Seok-youl and officials from the Presidential Office and the Ministry of National Defense exerted undue influence during this process.
Colonel Park Jeong-hoon, the former head of the Marine Corps investigation team who initially oversaw the investigation, defied orders to withhold transferring investigative materials to the police. He further fueled the suspicions by revealing that after reporting the investigation results, he heard that former President Yoon was furious.