Police Agency: "Yoon Seok-yeol's Wife Was Not Under Investigation... Suspended Due to Informant's Refusal to Testify"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police agency clarified that Kim Gun-hee, wife of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, was not the subject of an internal investigation despite media reports claiming she was under police inquiry for stock price manipulation allegations.

A police official stated in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 17th, "An internal investigation into Deutsche Motors was conducted, but Kim was not the subject of the investigation," adding, "It is true that Kim was mentioned in related documents."

Newstapa reported, citing a 2013 police internal investigation report, that Kwon Oh-soo, chairman of Deutsche Motors, colluded with a Mr. Lee, who was active as a 'player' in the stock market from 2010 to 2011, to artificially manipulate Deutsche Motors' stock price, leading to a police investigation. The outlet further noted that Kim participated as a 'broker,' entrusting her Deutsche Motors stocks, securities accounts, and 1 billion KRW in cash to Mr. Lee, which prompted the police to conduct the inquiry.

The investigation into these individuals began in March 2013 but was suspended in October of the same year. Suspension of an internal investigation differs from case closure; if meaningful evidence or intelligence such as whistleblower testimony is obtained, the investigation can be resumed.

The police official explained, "The investigation into Chairman Kwon and Mr. Lee was conducted," but added, "To ascertain the facts of stock price manipulation, cooperation from various institutions such as the Financial Supervisory Service is necessary, but cooperation was insufficient, and the whistleblower refused to testify, leading to the suspension of the investigation."