Verification of Official Seal Band Information
Warrant Executed Without Seizure
Ahn Kwonseop's Permanent Special Prosecutor Team, which is investigating the 'allegation of disposal of the official seal band,' launched its first compulsory investigation on December 19 by executing a search and verification warrant against the Bank of Korea.
Ahn Kwonseop's Permanent Special Prosecutor Team, investigating the prosecution's 'allegation of disposal of the official seal band,' is heading to the Bank of Korea's Issuing Department in Namdaemunro 3-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, on December 19, 2025, to execute a search and verification warrant. Photo by Yonhap News
On this day, the special prosecutor's team announced to the media, "Starting around 9 a.m., we are executing a 'search and verification warrant' at the Bank of Korea's Issuing Department." No seizure is expected to take place separately.
This warrant execution is reportedly aimed at confirming all information related to the production, inspection, storage, and distribution of the Bank of Korea's official seal band, which is also referred to as the 'production right' and 'usage right.' The execution involved Special Prosecutor Kim Kiuk, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Han Judong, five investigators, and one forensic specialist.
Previously, in December of last year, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office conducted a search and seizure of Jeon Seongbae's residence-known as Geonjin Bopsa-and secured bundles of cash, including 50 million won worth of Bank of Korea official seal bands. However, they lost the bands and stickers containing information such as the inspection date, person in charge, and department for the bundles of bills. The Southern District Prosecutors' Office stated that the loss of the bands and stickers was due to a simple work mistake by an employee during the money-counting process.
In response, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office launched an inspection under the direction of Minister of Justice Jeong Seongho and concluded that there was no higher-level instruction or intentional act. However, the special prosecutor's team is examining whether the disposal of the bands and stickers was a mere mistake or if the prosecution leadership attempted to conceal financial suspicions related to Jeon and others.
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