Lee Jae-myung (left), President, and Kim Min-seok, Prime Minister. Yonhap News

The police have launched an investigation into Prime Minister Kim Min-seok regarding allegations of abuse of power and human rights violations that occurred during the operation of the 'Constitution Respect Government Innovation Task Force (Constitution Respect TF)'.

This investigation follows a complaint filed in November of last year by the Committee for the People's Livelihood (COPEL, Secretary-General Kim Soon-hwan) and Seoul City Councilman Lee Jong-bae against Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and President Lee Jae-myung with the Jongno Police Station in Seoul, on charges of abuse of power and other offenses.

The Constitution Respect TF is an organization established in November of last year to identify and purge individuals involved in the December 12 military coup from within the executive branch.

The controversy began when the Constitution Respect TF announced it would conduct forensic analysis of civil servants' mobile phones during its administrative investigation process. While it was stated that 'voluntary submission' was the principle, criticism arose that it was effectively coercion, as refusal implied disadvantages such as suspension of duty and referral for investigation.

In the complaint, COPEL Secretary-General Kim Soon-hwan argued, "The TF's claim of encouraging voluntary mobile phone submission, and its declaration of suspending duties and referring for investigation in case of non-cooperation, violates Articles 17 and 18 of the Constitution," and asserted, "The act of treating civil servants as potential criminals is abuse of power, the act of inducing submissions is obstruction of business, and the defamation of public servants' morality is defamation of character."

Regarding President Lee, he stated, "Instead of relying on a special prosecutor for Prime Minister Kim's proposal, the government should conduct its own investigation," and added, "Abuse of power against 750,000 civil servants and the creation of anxiety by breaking trust between public servants and colleagues are reducing work efficiency."

Seoul City Councilman Lee Jong-bae, a member of the People Power Party, also filed a complaint against Prime Minister Kim on charges of abuse of power, coercion, and threats.

Councilman Lee argued, "The submission of mobile phones without a court warrant to seize them is a violation of the constitutional principle of warrants and the freedom of privacy, thus unconstitutional."

He further added, "Prime Minister Kim's order to establish the unconstitutional Constitution Respect TF is an abuse of his authority, and his notification of referral for investigation and the de facto forced submission of mobile phones constitute coercion and threats."

Reporter Lim Yo-hee