Gwanbongkwon and Coupang Standing Special Prosecutor Officially Launched... Ahn Kwonseop: "Both Cases Will Be Investigated Equally"

At the Special Prosecutor's Office Plaque Ceremony in Seocho-gu, Seoul
"I Feel a Great Sense of Responsibility... Will Make a Reasonable Decision"
Standing Special Prosecutor Activated for the Second Time
First Investigation Targeting Internal Affairs of the Prosecution

Special Prosecutor Ahn Kwonseop, who will lead the investigation into the allegations of disposal of Gwanbongkwon belts and external pressure to not prosecute Coupang severance pay, stated at the special prosecution team plaque ceremony on the 6th, "I feel a great sense of responsibility," adding, "I will do my utmost to uncover the truth of the case from an objective standpoint."

At the plaque ceremony held at the special prosecutor's office in Centro Building, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Ahn said, "I will make a reasonable decision based on the results of the investigation." When asked which case-Gwanbongkwon or Coupang-would be prioritized, he replied, "Both cases are important," and emphasized, "We will investigate both with equal weight, without favoring one over the other."

Special Prosecutor Kwon Seop An, who will investigate the allegations of disposal of the Gwanbongwon belt and the alleged external pressure to not prosecute Coupang severance pay, is expressing his determination at the special prosecution team plaque ceremony held at the office in Seocho-gu on the 6th. Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office caused controversy last December after losing belt bands and stickers for Bank of Korea Gwanbongkwon notes (worth about 50 million won) that were seized during a search of Jeon Seongbae's residence, a shaman known as Geonjin Bopsa. The decision by the Bucheon Branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office not to prosecute the unpaid severance pay case at Coupang Fulfillment Services (CFS) also led to suspicions of external pressure, which became the background for the introduction of the special prosecutor.

Attending the plaque ceremony were Special Prosecutor Assistants Kim Kiuk (33rd class) and Kwon Dohyeong (1st bar exam), as well as Kim Hokyung (37th class), Chief of the Public Investigation Division at the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, who will lead the investigation team. Since Ahn's appointment as special prosecutor on November 17, the team has completed preparations by securing office space and appointing assistants. By law, the special prosecutor's investigation period can last up to 90 days and may be extended once.

The standing special prosecutor's team consists of the special prosecutor, two assistant special prosecutors, up to five dispatched prosecutors, and up to 30 dispatched public officials and 30 special investigators each. The team includes five dispatched prosecutors: Chief Prosecutor Kim Hokyung, Deputy Chief Prosecutors Jeong Seongheon and Han Judong, Prosecutor Jang Jin, and Prosecutor Yang Guiho.

Moon Jiseok, who was the chief prosecutor in charge of this case at the time, revealed during a National Assembly audit that his superiors, District Chief Eom Heejun and Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Donghee, had ordered a decision of non-indictment. Minister of Justice Jeong Seongho stated, "It is necessary to uncover the truth through an independent third-party agency," and decided to activate the standing special prosecutor system.

This is only the second time the standing special prosecutor system has been activated, following the special prosecutor investigation into the Sewol ferry disaster in 2021. This is the first time a special prosecutor investigation is being conducted into the internal affairs of the prosecution itself.