Announcement of Special Prosecutor Min Jungki's Investigation Results
"Kim Gunhee Illegally Intervened in State Affairs Behind the Curtain"
Emphasis on the Need for 'Legislative Reforms' Regarding the First Lady and Others
On December 29, the special prosecutor team led by Min Joongki, which investigated various allegations surrounding First Lady Kim Gunhee for 180 days, announced, "It has been confirmed that the spouse of the President illegally intervened in state affairs from behind a curtain, out of the public eye." The special prosecutor's team indicted a total of 66 individuals, including former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife, and concluded the investigation.
Special Prosecutor Min Joongki of the Special Prosecutor Team for Fact-Finding on the State Manipulation and Illegal Election Interference Case Related to Kim Gunhee, Myung Taekyun, and Geonjin Beopsa is announcing the investigation results at the briefing room of the Special Prosecutor Team set up at the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul on December 29, 2025. Photo by Dongju Yoon
On this day, the special prosecutor's team announced the "Investigation Results of the Special Prosecutor on the State Manipulation and Illegal Election Interference Case Related to Kim Gunhee, Myung Taekyun, and Geonjin Beopsa" at the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim Hyeonggeun stated, "The spouse of the President engaged in a 'modern version of selling government offices,' reminiscent of what one might only read about in history books," and added, "Although former President Yoon denies any knowledge of his spouse’s ongoing and repeated acceptance of money and valuables, it is difficult to believe this claim."
According to the special prosecutor's investigation, Mrs. Kim received a total of 377.25 million won in money and valuables from Han Hakja, President of the Unification Church, former World Headquarters Director Yoon Youngho, Seo Hee Construction Chairman Lee Bonggwan, robot dog entrepreneur Seo Seongbin, former Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Sangmin, and Kim Kihyun, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, and his wife, among others.
Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim explained, "At this stage, there is not enough direct evidence to conclude that former President Yoon was aware of this, so inevitably, only Mrs. Kim was indicted on charges of receiving bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes." The investigation into bribery allegations involving the former presidential couple has been transferred to the National Office of Investigation.
The special prosecutor's team emphasized the need for strict punishment for the spouses of those in power, including the First Lady. Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim said, "If the First Lady, simply by virtue of her position, is allowed to violate the constitutional order without appropriate legal mechanisms to ensure proper punishment, it is unfair," and added, "If the First Lady performs public roles alongside the President, there should be corresponding legal measures to prevent a gap that does not align with the public's sense of justice."
"Abuse of Power by the President's Spouse Severely Damaged the Public System... Will Ensure Thorough Maintenance of Prosecution"
The special prosecutor's team defined former President Yoon and Mrs. Kim as a "political community" and pointed out their collusion. Deputy Special Prosecutor Oh Jeonghee stated, "Mrs. Kim played a leading role from the very beginning of former President Yoon's political career," and added, "It has been clearly revealed that, even after his election, she actively intervened in nominations and continued to act as part of a 'political community.'"
She further noted, "It was confirmed that Mrs. Kim, despite having no official position or authority, enjoyed a status comparable to that of the President."
Special Prosecutor Min Jungki of the Special Investigation Team for the Truth Verification of the State Manipulation and Illegal Election Interference Case Involving Kim Gunhee and Myung Taekyun and Geonjin Beopsa is organizing materials with deputy special prosecutors at the briefing room of the Special Investigation Team set up in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West, Jongno-gu, Seoul, ahead of the announcement of the special prosecutor's investigation results on December 29, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo
Special Prosecutor Min Joongki stated, "In several cases, it was confirmed that the abuse of power by the President's spouse caused significant damage to the public system of the Republic of Korea," and added, "Although the investigation has concluded, we will ensure there is no negligence in maintaining the prosecution going forward."
With the announcement of the investigation results by Kim Gunhee's special prosecutor team, all three major special prosecutor investigations targeting the former presidential couple (Insurrection, Kim Gunhee, Chae Sangbyeong) have concluded. Numerous unresolved cases that the special prosecutor could not clarify will be further investigated by the National Office of Investigation.
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