The second comprehensive special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, has concluded its 180-day investigation into remaining allegations from the three major special prosecutor teams (military coup, Kim Geon-hee, and Chae Sang-byeong). Despite being the longest and largest investigation in terms of personnel, the special prosecutor has indicted over 50 individuals, but some allegations remain unresolved and will be referred back to the police.
According to legal sources on the 23rd, the special prosecutor will announce the final investigation results on the 24th. The team was established on February 25 to investigate the remaining allegations from the three major special prosecutor teams and requested a third extension from the National Assembly after failing to complete the investigation despite two previous extensions. This allowed the special prosecutor to secure a 180-day investigation period with a team of 271 investigators.
The special prosecutor employed a 'Heavy Tail' strategy, focusing on requesting arrest warrants and filing charges in the latter part of the investigation, resulting in the indictment of over 50 individuals during the investigation period.
Notably, the investigation into the 'presidential residence relocation allegations' yielded significant results. This allegation centers on Kim Geon-hee receiving money from 21Gram to secure a construction contract for the residence, despite 21Gram lacking the necessary construction license. Consequently, Kim Geon-hee and Kim Tae-young, the head of 21Gram, were indicted.
Additionally, former Chief of Staff to the President Kim Dae-ki, former Secretary for General Affairs Yoon Jae-soon, and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min were indicted for allegedly illegally diverting government funds during the relocation process. Lawmaker Yoon Han-hong was also indicted at the end of the investigation. Auditor Yoo Byung-ho was arrested and indicted for allegedly covering up the investigation.
Key figures involved in the alleged military coup were also indicted. On July 3, the special prosecutor indicted four Joint Chiefs of Staff officials for failing to act on a proposal to withdraw troops from the National Assembly on the day of the coup.
In the latter part of the investigation, former President Yoon Suk Yeol and former National Security Office head Shin Won-sik were indicted for allegedly conveying messages justifying the coup to allied countries. Former First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Kim Tae-hyo was also indicted while in custody.
Other notable indictments include former Capital Defense Command Chief Lee Jin-woo for forming a 'Guardian Task Force' and former National Intelligence Service Director Yeo In-hyung for allegedly creating a blacklist.
However, there has been criticism that even with the longest duration and largest personnel, the special prosecutor failed to resolve the remaining allegations from the three major special prosecutor teams. Analysts suggest that setting a broad investigation scope within a limited timeframe was a misstep. Unresolved cases will be referred back to the National Investigation Agency.
One prominent unresolved case is the 'Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway endpoint change allegation.' Previously, the special prosecutor indicted a Ministry of Land official regarding the change of the expressway endpoint from Yangseo-myeon in Yangpyeong County to Gangsan-myeon, where Kim Geon-hee's family owns land, but failed to clarify the allegations against former Minister Won Hee-ryong.
The special prosecutor, which took over the case from the National Investigation Agency, imposed a travel ban on former Minister Won in March, conducted a search in April, and summoned him as a suspect in July and August, but is expected to refer the case back to the police without proving the allegations.
The 'Noh Sang-won notebook' allegations also remain unresolved. The special prosecutor conducted on-site verification by helicopter at facilities mentioned in the notebook but could not secure testimony from former National Intelligence Service Director Noh Sang-won, leading to the referral process.
Allegations regarding the cover-up of the Unification Church gambling investigation and the manipulation of Deutsche Motors' stock prices, involving former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, are also likely to remain unresolved.
According to legal sources on the 23rd, the special prosecutor will announce the final investigation results on the 24th. The team was established on February 25 to investigate the remaining allegations from the three major special prosecutor teams and requested a third extension from the National Assembly after failing to complete the investigation despite two previous extensions. This allowed the special prosecutor to secure a 180-day investigation period with a team of 271 investigators.
The special prosecutor employed a 'Heavy Tail' strategy, focusing on requesting arrest warrants and filing charges in the latter part of the investigation, resulting in the indictment of over 50 individuals during the investigation period.
Notably, the investigation into the 'presidential residence relocation allegations' yielded significant results. This allegation centers on Kim Geon-hee receiving money from 21Gram to secure a construction contract for the residence, despite 21Gram lacking the necessary construction license. Consequently, Kim Geon-hee and Kim Tae-young, the head of 21Gram, were indicted.
Additionally, former Chief of Staff to the President Kim Dae-ki, former Secretary for General Affairs Yoon Jae-soon, and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min were indicted for allegedly illegally diverting government funds during the relocation process. Lawmaker Yoon Han-hong was also indicted at the end of the investigation. Auditor Yoo Byung-ho was arrested and indicted for allegedly covering up the investigation.
Key figures involved in the alleged military coup were also indicted. On July 3, the special prosecutor indicted four Joint Chiefs of Staff officials for failing to act on a proposal to withdraw troops from the National Assembly on the day of the coup.
In the latter part of the investigation, former President Yoon Suk Yeol and former National Security Office head Shin Won-sik were indicted for allegedly conveying messages justifying the coup to allied countries. Former First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Kim Tae-hyo was also indicted while in custody.
Other notable indictments include former Capital Defense Command Chief Lee Jin-woo for forming a 'Guardian Task Force' and former National Intelligence Service Director Yeo In-hyung for allegedly creating a blacklist.
However, there has been criticism that even with the longest duration and largest personnel, the special prosecutor failed to resolve the remaining allegations from the three major special prosecutor teams. Analysts suggest that setting a broad investigation scope within a limited timeframe was a misstep. Unresolved cases will be referred back to the National Investigation Agency.
One prominent unresolved case is the 'Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway endpoint change allegation.' Previously, the special prosecutor indicted a Ministry of Land official regarding the change of the expressway endpoint from Yangseo-myeon in Yangpyeong County to Gangsan-myeon, where Kim Geon-hee's family owns land, but failed to clarify the allegations against former Minister Won Hee-ryong.
The special prosecutor, which took over the case from the National Investigation Agency, imposed a travel ban on former Minister Won in March, conducted a search in April, and summoned him as a suspect in July and August, but is expected to refer the case back to the police without proving the allegations.
The 'Noh Sang-won notebook' allegations also remain unresolved. The special prosecutor conducted on-site verification by helicopter at facilities mentioned in the notebook but could not secure testimony from former National Intelligence Service Director Noh Sang-won, leading to the referral process.
Allegations regarding the cover-up of the Unification Church gambling investigation and the manipulation of Deutsche Motors' stock prices, involving former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, are also likely to remain unresolved.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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