Deutsche Reinvestigation Team Secures Kim Keonhee's Mobile Phone... First Compulsory Investigation

The Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, which is reinvestigating allegations that former First Lady Kim Keonhee was involved in the Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation case, has secured her mobile phone. This is the first time that prosecutors have taken compulsory investigative measures, such as a search and seizure, against Kim in connection with the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation allegations.

According to legal sources on May 21, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office recently executed a search and seizure warrant for Kim's mobile phone, which had been obtained by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office during its investigation into allegations involving Jeon Seongbae, known as "Geonjin Beopsa."

Previously, Kim faced allegations that she acted as a "Jeonju," or financier, and profited when former Deutsche Motors Chairman Kwon Ohsu and others systematically inflated stock prices by mobilizing "players" between 2009 and 2012.

Former President Yoon Sukyeol and First Lady Kim Keonhee are talking inside a car as they leave the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 11th of last month. Photo by Yoon Dongju

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office had investigated suspicions that Kim participated in or aided the stock manipulation for about four and a half years and ultimately cleared her of charges in October of last year, but had never applied for a search and seizure warrant against her in this case. Prosecutors acknowledged that some of Kim's accounts were used, but concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove she was aware of or participated in price manipulation.

The Democratic Party and others claimed that the prosecution had conducted a preferential or inadequate investigation and even filed an impeachment motion against Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Chief Lee Changsu and others. The Constitutional Court unanimously dismissed the impeachment motion in March, but pointed out that "there are some doubts as to whether Lee and the other two prosecutors properly conducted or supervised the investigation to collect evidence."

However, since several years have already passed since the incident occurred, it remains uncertain whether any meaningful data can be obtained from the mobile phone. It is also reported that the Southern District Prosecutors' Office has not yet been able to unlock the phone's password.