Kwon Chang-seok Special Counsel Moves to Secure Custody of Ex-Secretary Lee Si-won Over Alleged Marine Corps Probe Meddling

The Kwon Chang-seok independent counsel team, which is investigating allegations of external pressure on the investigation into the death of Marine Corporal Chae, has initiated efforts to secure the custody of former Presidential Secretary for Civil Discipline Lee Si-won, who is accused of leaking police search and seizure information to the Marine Corps in advance.

The team has requested an arrest warrant for Lee on charges of leaking official secrets, alleging that in September 2023, he received a report regarding the North Gyeongsang Police Agency’s plan to search and seize the Marine Corps 1st Division and subsequently informed the Marine Corps of the plan.

Lee is suspected of immediately informing an official at the National Security Office about the search and seizure details after receiving the report, with the information subsequently being conveyed to the Marine Corps via the Ministry of National Defense.