Investigation Accelerates into Former Justice Minister Park Sungjae over Alleged Solicitation Regarding First Lady Kim Keonhee
Request for Testimony from Lawmaker Seo Beomsoo Withdrawn in Martial Law Resolution Obstruction Case
Yoon Jae-soon, former Secretary General of the Presidential Secretariat, is greeting at the 2025 National Assembly Inspection held by the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee on October 23. Photo by Yonhap News
The special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok, investigating the rebellion and treason allegations related to the 12·3 Martial Law, has brought former Presidential Secretariat Secretary for General Affairs Yoon Jaesoon and People Power Party lawmaker Lim Jongdeuk to trial.
On December 8, the special prosecutor's team indicted both individuals without detention on charges including abuse of authority and violation of the National Public Service Act.
According to the special prosecutor's team, former Secretary Yoon is accused of intervening in the appointment process of a drone strategy officer dispatched to the National Crisis Management Center under the National Security Office around September 2023. He allegedly acted on a request from an acquaintance, instructing then-Deputy Director of the National Security Office Lim Jongdeuk and then-Defense Secretary Lim Kihun to appoint an unqualified individual.
The special prosecutor's team determined that the officer in question was not originally among the recommended candidates and that the appointment was made by increasing the number of dispatched personnel by one. Typically, the National Security Office selects dispatched personnel based on recommendations from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as coordinated by the Ministry of National Defense.
Special Prosecutor Park Jiyoung stated, "During the investigation into the treason allegations, we became aware that the appointment of the drone strategy officer was made due to an external request. We concluded that this case is related to the main subject of the special investigation into the rebellion, and decided to indict after further investigation."
However, the special prosecutor's team granted a suspension of indictment for former Secretary Lim, taking into account the intent of the immunity provision for investigative assistants specified in the Special Prosecutor Act.
Additionally, the special prosecutor's team is expediting the investigation into former Justice Minister Park Sungjae regarding allegations of soliciting an investigation into First Lady Kim Keonhee. The special prosecutor's investigation period ends on December 14.
Special Prosecutor Park stated, "We are conducting additional investigations due to Telegram messages related to alleged violations of the Anti-Graft Act. Within the scope of our authority, we are doing everything possible and will either refer the case to the Kim Keonhee special prosecutor team or reach an internal conclusion after review."
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor's team has withdrawn its request for pretrial witness examination, which was intended to secure testimony from fellow People Power Party lawmaker Seo Beomsoo regarding the indictment without detention of lawmaker Chu Kyungho for allegedly obstructing the National Assembly's resolution to lift martial law.
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