Sign-Hanging Ceremonies Scheduled for July 2
All Three Special Prosecutor Teams, Including the Insurrection Probe, Now in Operation
The special prosecutor teams investigating Kim Keonhee and Chae Haebyeong will officially begin their investigations starting July 2.
On June 30, the Kim Keonhee special prosecutor team announced to the press that construction of their office at the KT Gwanghwamun Building West had been completed and that an official sign-hanging ceremony would be held on July 2. At the same time, the Chae Haebyeong special prosecutor team will also hold a sign-hanging ceremony at their office located in the Seocho Hansem Building in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
With the Cho Eunseok special prosecutor team, which began its investigation earlier by indicting former Minister of National Defense Kim Yonghyun on June 18 on charges including obstruction of official duties by deception, all three special prosecutor teams are now entering full-scale investigative operations. This comes 20 days after the three special prosecutors were appointed on June 12.
According to the Special Prosecutor Act, the Kim Keonhee special prosecutor team is tasked with investigating 16 allegations, including Kim Keonhee's suspected involvement in the Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation, allegations of Myung Taegyun's intervention in party nominations, and suspicions of solicitation involving Geonjin Bopsa. On the morning of June 30, Special Prosecutor Min Jungki responded to reporters' questions about which case would be investigated first by saying, "It's difficult to say, and we are still preparing," adding, "We are thoroughly reviewing all the cases and preparing meticulously according to the nature of each matter."
The Chae Haebyeong special prosecutor team will investigate allegations of interference and cover-up in the case of Marine Chae's death, which occurred in July 2023. The team will also take over the appellate trial of former Marine Corps Investigation Chief Park Junghoon, who is accused of insubordination, from the military prosecution. Special Prosecutor Assistant Jeong Minyoung stated, "This morning, we plan to request the transfer of the records for Colonel Park's appellate case from the Ministry of National Defense," explaining, "Since the special prosecutor has the authority to maintain the prosecution according to the law, receiving the records means we will now be responsible for maintaining the prosecution."
There is a possibility that Kim Keonhee may simultaneously become the subject of investigations by two special prosecutor teams. It is expected that the Kim Keonhee special prosecutor team, upon commencing its investigation, will prioritize a swift investigation into the largest cases, such as the Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation and the allegations involving Myung Taegyun and Geonjin Bopsa. Just as the special prosecutor team investigating the insurrection allegations recently summoned former President Yoon Sukyeol, who is at the center of those suspicions, it is also speculated that Kim Keonhee may be summoned unexpectedly. The Chae Haebyeong special prosecutor team is also reportedly suspicious of Kim Keonhee as being behind the lobbying efforts to save former Marine 1st Division Commander Lim Seonggeun.
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