Min Joongki: "Difficult to Disclose the List... Considered Communication and Harmony"
President Lee Must Appoint Four within Five Days of Request
Special Prosecutor Min Joongki, who is tasked with investigating allegations against former President Yoon Sukyeol’s wife, Kim Keonhee, has recommended eight candidates for the position of special prosecutor assistant to the Presidential Office. President Lee Jaemyung must select four of them and appoint them within five days.
On June 16, at a law office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Special Prosecutor Min met with reporters and said, "Because the investigation must be completed in a short period of time, I considered investigative ability first, and then, since people from various backgrounds need to work together, I also considered communication and harmony." Min explained that he had recommended eight candidates for special prosecutor assistant to the Presidential Office at around 11 p.m. on June 15.
Regarding the list of eight candidates, he stated, "It includes former prosecutors, lawyers, and judges," but added, "It is difficult to disclose the details at this time. You will find out in due course." Recently, Min was reported to have met with former judge Moon Hongju to discuss matters related to the special investigation, but he did not confirm whether Moon was included on the list.
Regarding the location of the special prosecutor’s office, Min said, "We have selected several candidates and are in the final stages of review." It has been reported that Min is considering public institution buildings and has visited areas such as Pangyo and Gwacheon.
As for the 16 key cases to be addressed by the Kim Keonhee special investigation, Min commented, "We have not yet fully reviewed the cases and are currently examining them. Once the special prosecutor assistants are appointed, we will review and decide together." The cases under investigation include the alleged stock price manipulation involving Deutsche Motors, allegations regarding luxury handbag gifts, and suspicions of state affairs and personnel intervention by figures such as Myung Taegyun and Geonjinbeopsa.
He also appealed for understanding, saying, "We are still in the preparation stage. We know there is a lot of public interest, but we ask for your patience for the time being."
According to the Kim Keonhee Special Prosecutor Act, the special prosecutor must have at least seven years of experience as a judge, prosecutor, or lawyer, and may recommend eight candidates for special prosecutor assistant to the President. The President must appoint four of them within five days of receiving the request. If the President does not make the appointments within the period, the eldest among the recommended candidates is considered to have been appointed.
The appointed special prosecutor assistants will be responsible for investigations related to the cases, maintaining prosecution in cases that have been indicted, and supervising and directing special investigators and public officials seconded from related agencies. They will be in charge of investigations and maintaining prosecutions, and one of them may be responsible for public relations, including investigation briefings.
Once the four special prosecutor assistants are selected, Special Prosecutor Min is expected to finalize the lists of 40 dispatched prosecutors, 80 seconded public officials, and 80 special investigators during the preparation period, and focus on securing office space.
After the 20-day preparation period ends, a full-scale investigation is expected to begin in early next month. The investigation period for the Kim Keonhee special prosecutor team is up to 170 days, including the preparation period.
Meanwhile, Special Prosecutor Min is a former judge who previously served as the Chief Judge of the Seoul Central District Court and is known as a member of the "Wooribeop Research Association." He is considered a close associate of former Chief Justice Kim Myungsoo, having attended university with him. During the Moon Jaein administration, he also served as the chair of the committee for further investigation into the so-called "Judiciary Blacklist" allegations.
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