P.M. office staff accused of abusing investigative power

Members of the prime minister’s office face a criminal investigation for allegedly conducting illegal surveillance on a civilian.

The prime minister’s office said Monday it has referred four of its staff members for a prosecution probe as they were found to have violated rules on government officials’ duties.

Lee In-kyu, a senior official in charge of inspecting ethics-code violation by public officials, and three lower-level officials allegedly led an illegal probe of a businessman surnamed Kim who posted on his blog a video image of slander against President Lee Myung-bak and his policies. Kim at that time ran a subcontractor of a major bank.

A Democratic Party lawmaker and MBC-TV claimed late last month that Lee In-kyu’s people searched Kim’s office and pressured the bank to stop doing business with Kim. The case was then transferred to the police who interrogated Kim on charges of embezzlement and libel against the president. 

Prime Minster Chung Un-chan addresses the last meeting of a panel on implementing a revised Sejong City plan Monday. Kim Myung-sub/The Korea Herald