Han Ki-boong Avoids Life-Saving Lobbying Court Test

Han Ki-boong, the former head of Far East Broadcasting Company, is accused of being involved in a "life-saving lobbying" case conc...

Han Ki-boong, the former head of Far East Broadcasting Company, is accused of being involved in a "life-saving lobbying" case concerning former Marine 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun. He did not attend the "pre-trial witness examination" requested by the special counsel team looking into the death of a Marine on the 13th. The court has moved the examination to the 28th of this month, but it is unclear if it will take place, as that date coincides with the conclusion of the special counsel's investigation period.

Han, the former president, was absent from the examination session held at 2 p.m. that day in the Criminal Division 32 of the Seoul Central District Court, which was presided over by Judge Woo Min-je. According to reports, Han did not receive several summonses sent by the court. Taking into account the time needed for delivering the summonses, Judge Woo postponed the date to the 28th, roughly two weeks later. The special counsel team asked to move the date forward, citing the investigation's deadline, but Judge Woo refused to alter it. Earlier, Han also failed to respond to the special counsel's notification regarding a witness summons.

In July, the special prosecutor initiated a major seizure and search operation to look into claims that Far East Broadcasting Company Chairman Pastor Kim Jang-hwan, Han, and others conducted "life-saving lobbying" on behalf of former Division Commander Lim. This came after it was discovered that Lim may have sought assistance from officials in the presidential office and others when he faced potential charges of negligent homicide related to the death of late Corporal Chae Su-geun in July 2023. It was reported that the special prosecutor verified records showing Pastor Kim's communications with Lim, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, and others between July and September 2023, as well as evidence indicating that Han deleted his mobile phone call records for about a year starting in July 2023.

In reply, Han's team denied, "The assertion that call records were erased is untrue. There is no proof or situation suggesting participation in 'life-saving lobbying.' They are carrying out a 'religious suppression' inquiry." The special prosecutor insists that "an examination of Han and other Protestant leaders is required." Nevertheless, if Han persists in rejecting the special counsel's request for questioning, the investigation might not move forward before the investigation deadline arrives.

Meanwhile, a substantive review of the bench warrant requested by the special counsel team examining the death of a Marine will take place at the Seoul Central District Court on the 17th. Prosecutors Kim Seon-gyu and Song Chang-jin, former senior officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, are accused of deliberately hindering and delaying the investigation into claims of external pressure on the office's inquiry into Corporal Chae's death.

Assistant Special Counsel Jung Min-young mentioned at a press conference that day, "The suspects' behavior is considered a major offense because they hindered the investigation into crimes committed by senior officials without any restrictions. This contradicts the original intent of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, which was to independently examine the misconduct of top officials free from political influence."