MOLIT Official Cleared in 'Yangpyeong Allegations'... Court: "Not Subject to Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor Investigation"

Personal Corruption Charges Discovered During Yangpyeong Expressway Probe
Court: "No Relevance to Scope of Investigation"

The court has dismissed the indictment against a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) official who was prosecuted on charges of accepting kickbacks and granting business favors during a national highway construction project commissioned by the ministry. The court determined that the case does not fall under the scope of the investigation led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki's team, which is focused on allegations involving Kim Keon-hee.

Min Joong-ki, the special prosecutor in charge of the case related to allegations involving Kim Gun-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, along with deputy special prosecutors, held a plaque unveiling ceremony on July 2 at the special prosecutor's office set up in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul. From left: Moon Hong-joo and Park Sang-jin, deputy special prosecutors; Min Joong-ki, special prosecutor; Kim Hyung-geun and Oh Jung-hee, deputy special prosecutors; Hong Ji-hang, support team leader. 2025.7.2 Photo by Jo Yongjun

The 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Hyung-woo) on January 22 dismissed the indictment against Mr. Kim, a MOLIT official who was brought to trial on bribery charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. A dismissal of indictment means the prosecution's case is invalid due to a lack of formal procedural requirements, and the case is concluded without reviewing the substance of the charges.

Previously, the special prosecutor's team had identified Mr. Kim as a key figure in the "Yangpyeong Expressway route change preferential treatment allegations" involving Kim Keon-hee and began investigating him. Upon discovering evidence of bribery, they arrested and indicted him. Mr. Kim was accused of receiving 35 million won in cash and 1 million won in goods from a contractor between June 2023 and September 2024 during the process of selecting construction methods for road projects commissioned by MOLIT.

The court stated, "The facts of this case are not reasonably related to the Yangpyeong Expressway route change preferential treatment allegations, which are the subject of the special prosecutor's investigation, when considering factors such as the timing, nature, and personal connections involved." The court added, "Continuing the investigation of this case in an attempt to uncover the truth cannot be seen as consistent with the legislative intent of the special prosecutor act."

The court further pointed out, "For example, the scope of the investigation related to the Yangpyeong Expressway allegations could be expanded indefinitely to include crimes such as bribery, drug offenses, and sexual crimes," and emphasized, "It does not align with the purpose of the special prosecutor act for the investigation to cover all such crimes."

As a result of the court's dismissal of the indictment, Mr. Kim is expected to undergo release procedures.