Special Prosecutor Can Investigate Until November 28
Deputy Prosecutor Candidates to Be Submitted to Presidential Office Today
"Investigating Kim's Mother and Others on Charges of Evidence Concealment"
The special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating various allegations involving First Lady Kim Keonhee, has decided to extend its investigation period for a second time. Two additional deputy special prosecutors are also expected to be appointed to join the team for the remaining investigation period.
Min Jungki Special Prosecutor, Kim Hyungkeun, Moon Hongju, Park Sangjin Deputy Special Prosecutors. Yonhap News
Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim Hyungkeun stated at a media briefing on this day, "As the ongoing investigations have not yet been completed, we have decided to extend the investigation period by an additional 30 days in accordance with the revised special prosecutor act."
According to the revised special prosecutor act, the special prosecutor may conduct an investigation for 90 days and extend it three times by 30 days each, allowing for a maximum investigation period of 180 days. The special prosecutor team, which began its investigation on July 2, has already extended the period once and, with this latest extension, will be able to operate until November 28.
Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim explained, "Taking into account the ongoing investigations and the burden of maintaining prosecution in already indicted cases, we have selected four candidates for deputy special prosecutor in accordance with the revised act, and will request the appointment of two of them today." The special prosecutor team will recommend two candidates, and President Lee Jaemyung will make the final selection.
The special prosecutor team, which recently received the support of Chief Prosecutor Ki Noseong-regarded as an expert in securities and finance investigations-and four prosecution investigators, is expected to reorganize its plans for investigation and prosecution maintenance once the two new deputy special prosecutors join.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team suspects that items were removed before the second round of searches and seizures targeting the family of the First Lady. Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim stated, "We are investigating items found at the offices of the First Lady's brother-in-law and mother, as well as items suspected to have been removed before the renewed search and seizure," adding, "We are investigating charges such as evidence concealment, destruction of evidence, and obstruction of the investigation."
Previously, in July, the special prosecutor team discovered a gold turtle, suspected to have been given by former National Education Commission Chairperson Lee Baeyong as part of a personnel request, in a safe owned by the First Lady's sibling at a nursing home operated by her mother, Choi Eunsun. At the same time, the team reportedly found a letter left by the former chairperson and documents listing the backgrounds of four incumbent police officials.
According to the special prosecutor team, the scope of the warrant issued at that time only allowed for the seizure of the gold turtle. After obtaining a new warrant and conducting another search and seizure, the relevant items were found to be missing.
Separately, regarding allegations that Special Prosecutor Min engaged in stock trading using undisclosed information, the team stated, "(The purchase occurred) in early 2000," and added, "If it were related to the special prosecutor's investigation, we would of course disclose it, but Neosemitech itself is not subject to the special prosecutor's investigation, and we possess no related investigative materials."
Special Prosecutor Min came under suspicion of using undisclosed information after it was revealed that, while serving as a presiding judge at the Seoul High Court, he sold unlisted shares of Neosemitech, a solar materials company, just before its delisting, earning a capital gain of approximately 150 million won. The company was delisted after the sale due to accounting fraud.
Suspicions were raised that Special Prosecutor Min may have gained illicit profit, as he was a high school and university classmate of the company's CEO and sold the shares just before the delisting. On October 16, four days after the allegations first surfaced, Special Prosecutor Min issued a public statement saying, "I apologize for causing controversy regarding my personal stock transactions," but emphasized, "I want to make it clear that there was no violation, such as the use of undisclosed information, in the process of acquiring or selling the shares."
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