A special investigator at the Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor's Team, which is handling the remaining cases from the three major special probes, has been disciplined for posting internal investigation materials on his personal social media account.
Special Prosecutor Kim Ji-mi said at a briefing held Tuesday afternoon at the team's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, that "a special investigator posted photos and personal reflections from his investigation work on social media, which was subsequently reported in the media." She added, "We convened the rewards and disciplinary committee and imposed a penalty after conducting a fact-finding investigation and hearing the individual's statement."
The disciplined special investigator, identified only by the surname Lee, posted photos on his social media account on Sunday showing his letter of appointment from Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, his office nameplate, and even part of a suspect's statement record. Although the names and seals on the statement record were masked in purple, the post drew strong criticism for using core security materials of an investigative agency as a personal promotional tool.
In the post, Lee explained his background for joining the special prosecutor's team, saying, "Having always stood on the side of suspects, I have entered an investigative agency for the first time in my life," and "Building investigative experience from an investigator's perspective will maximize my expertise in criminal cases." His social media profile also listed his career as a special investigator at the special prosecutor's office (Grade 5 civil servant) alongside a description of himself as a lawyer specializing in divorce and criminal cases.
The post has since been deleted. Special investigators receive treatment equivalent to Grade 3 to 5 civil servants in special appointment positions and are delegated investigative authority.
This is not the first controversy surrounding the Comprehensive Special Prosecutor's Team, which was launched in February. Special Prosecutor Kim Ji-mi, who serves as spokesperson, drew criticism last month after appearing on "Kim Eo-jun's Humility Is Hard Newsfactory," a YouTube channel with a particular political orientation, and mentioning matters related to the investigation.
Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young also came under fire for reportedly telling former Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Kang-wook during an interview as a witness that "to root out martial law, we would need to establish a special joint investigation headquarters and work on it for three years." The remarks came to light after Choi mentioned them during an appearance on a pro-government YouTube channel.
Separately, former Assistant Special Prosecutor Kwon Young-bin stepped down from his post after it was revealed that he had previously represented Lee Hwa-young, former vice governor for peace of Gyeonggi Province, and Bang Yong-chul, former vice chairman of Ssangbangwool, both of whom are related to testimony in the Ssangbangwool illegal remittance to North Korea case.
