The second special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, has concluded its six-month investigation into remaining allegations from the third special prosecutor team, charging 58 individuals, including former President Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Geon-hee. However, some allegations remain unresolved and have been transferred back to the police.
Kwon Chang-young held a final briefing on August 24 at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, stating, "We received 152 cases in the comprehensive investigation and processed 126 of them." He noted that 7 individuals were indicted while 51 were indicted without detention. The indictment list includes high-ranking officials from the presidential office, military, prosecutors, police, and the National Intelligence Service.
The special prosecutor indicted several individuals related to allegations concerning the relocation of the presidential office. They took over cases previously transferred to the National Investigation Headquarters due to time constraints, charging Kim Geon-hee and Yoon Han-hong, a member of the National Assembly, for their involvement in selecting contractors for the new office.
Additionally, Kwon indicted former Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min for illegally diverting government funds during the relocation process. The special prosecutor also indicted Yoo Byeong-ho, an auditor at the Board of Audit and Inspection, who is accused of covering up the allegations.
Key suspects involved in the December 3 emergency martial law have also been indicted. The special prosecutor charged four senior officials from the Joint Chiefs of Staff with important duties related to insurrection. Yoon Suk Yeol and former National Security Office head Shin Won-sik were indicted without detention for allegedly justifying the emergency martial law to allied nations, while former first deputy director of the National Security Office Kim Tae-hyo was indicted with detention.
Other individuals charged include former presidential secretary Lee Si-won, accused of leaking information about the case involving a deceased marine, and former head of the Defense Security Command Hwang Yu-seong, who is alleged to have concealed the so-called 'VIP anger theory.'
However, 46 unresolved cases, including the 'Noh Sang-won notebook' allegations, the route change of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway, and the cover-up of overseas gambling investigations involving the Unification Church, have been transferred to the National Investigation Headquarters.
Kwon stated, "The essence of insurrection is organized and collective," emphasizing the need for a longer investigation to fully uncover the details of the insurrection and state affairs manipulation allegations.
With the investigation period concluded, the special prosecutor's office will transition to maintaining prosecutions. Investigative personnel will be reassigned to a minimal team necessary for prosecution maintenance, and additional experienced lawyers will be hired as special prosecutors to support this effort.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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