Special Prosecutor Team Holds First Meeting with Reporters on June 19
Plans to Visit Ministry of Justice, Corruption Investigation Office, and Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency
The special prosecutor's team investigating allegations related to Kim Keonhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, stated on June 19, 2025, "We are in the process of understanding the case through visits to relevant institutions." The team plans to accelerate the investigation by sending official documents requesting the dispatch of prosecutors within the day.
Special Prosecutor Min Jungki and Deputy Special Prosecutors Kim Hyeonggeun, Park Sangjin, Moon Hongju, and Oh Junghui made this announcement while meeting with reporters at their temporary office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the same day.
Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim said, "Yesterday was our first day at work, and before that, there was no way for us to know about this case except through media reports. We are now in the process of grasping the situation by receiving brief official explanations of the current investigation status during our visits to institutions."
The special prosecutor's team also announced that they have finalized the list of prosecutors to be dispatched and will officially request personnel from the prosecution, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, and other agencies starting today. The team can have up to 40 dispatched prosecutors.
When asked about the possibility of conducting a compulsory investigation against Mrs. Kim, who is currently hospitalized, the team responded, "After the initial dispatch, we will determine the overall direction of the investigation together with the dispatched personnel and decide how to proceed from there." They did not answer questions about whether they would investigate allegations of inadequate investigation by the prosecution team that previously handled and dismissed the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case.
On the morning of June 19, 2025, the special prosecutor's team is scheduled to visit the Government Complex Gwacheon for a meeting with Kim Seokwoo, the acting Minister of Justice. They also plan to visit the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency. The Gyeonggi Nambu Agency is currently investigating allegations of preferential treatment regarding a change in the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway route related to real estate owned by Mrs. Kim's family.
Special Prosecutor Min is expected to use these meetings to request cooperation, such as the dispatch of investigative personnel, and to gather information on the status of the investigation into Mrs. Kim.
On June 18, 2025, the special prosecutor's team also made a series of visits to the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, and the Financial Supervisory Service, all of which have handled cases involving allegations against Mrs. Kim. These institutions have previously investigated the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, allegations involving "political broker" Myung Taegyun, suspicions regarding the acceptance of expensive necklaces and luxury bags from Jeon Seongbae, known as "Geonjinbeopsa," and the Sambu Construction stock manipulation case.
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