The second comprehensive special investigation team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, concluded its 180-day investigation on August 23. The team indicted a total of 58 individuals, including former President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Geon-hee.
According to the special investigation team, seven of those indicted were taken into custody, while 51 others, including corporations, were indicted without detention. Following a 'Heavy Tail Strategy' focused on case resolutions in the final stages of the investigation, over 40 individuals were referred to trial in the last two weeks.
Notable outcomes include the investigation into allegations surrounding the relocation of the presidential office during Yoon's administration. The team first indicted former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, former Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki, former Secretary for General Affairs Yoon Jae-soon, and former Secretary for Management Kim O-jin in June for illegally diverting and executing state funds. They later indicted Kim Geon-hee, National Assembly member Yoon Han-hong, and 21Gram CEO Kim Tae-young.
Also indicted were Yoo Byeong-ho, a member of the Board of Audit and Inspection, and other officials accused of attempting to suppress investigations by the Board. The team expanded its inquiry into allegations of illegal diversion of state funds by the presidential office and the Ministry of the Interior, as well as claims of leniency in audits by the Board.
Former President Yoon, former National Security Office head Shin Won-sik, and former Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyo were indicted for allegedly directing the dissemination of messages justifying the 12.3 martial law to allied nations, including the United States.
Indictments were also made against former Presidential Office Secretary for Public Discipline Lee Si-won, who is accused of leaking information related to the 'Chae Sang-byeong incident,' and former Army Counterintelligence Command head Hwang Yu-seong, who allegedly concealed the 'VIP anger theory,' along with former Marine Corps Command Counterintelligence Unit head Moon Yeon-cheol.
However, the investigation did not reach conclusions on significant allegations, including the Noh Sang-won notebook and the involvement of the Suwon District Prosecutor's Office in the Yoon administration's investigations, as well as the allegations surrounding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway.
Despite being the largest and longest-running special investigation team in history, the team left many unresolved cases, leading to criticism in the legal community that the investigation was ultimately incomplete.
The expressway route change allegations saw the special investigation team impose a travel ban on former Minister Won and summon him twice, even conducting mobile phone forensics, but they ultimately could not establish any charges and decided to hand the case back to the National Police Agency.
In the case of the Noh Sang-won notebook, the special investigation team conducted on-site verifications at facilities noted as 'collection points' in the notebook, including the Yeonpyeong base, and investigated former Minister of Defense Kim Yong-hyun as a suspect in conspiracy to commit insurrection. However, they could not secure testimony from former Commander Noh, which hindered their ability to substantiate the allegations.
Allegations of interference by the Yoon administration's presidential office in the Suwon District Prosecutor's Office investigation were also noted. In March, the team confirmed indications of presidential office involvement in the investigation of the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case and requested the Seoul High Prosecutor's Office's Human Rights Violation Task Force to take over the case. In April, they classified it as a 'suspected massive state corruption incident' but reported no significant progress and indicated plans to transfer it.
Concerns were raised regarding the reversal of decisions related to key figures involved in insurrection. The special investigation team indicted Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, who revealed former President Yoon's directive to 'capture everyone,' and Jo Sung-hyun, former commander of the Army's Capital Defense Command, who received a commendation for instructing troops not to cross the Seogang Bridge while moving to the National Assembly during martial law, on charges of insurrection.
Both individuals were key witnesses who assisted in proving the insurrection allegations against former President Yoon and others during the insurrection special investigation team's inquiry. Given the conflicts between the two special investigation teams during the indictment process, disputes are expected to continue during the maintenance of charges.
The comprehensive special investigation team is scheduled to hold a final briefing on the investigation results on the morning of August 24 at their office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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