Special prosecutor summons prosecutors in Kim Keon-hee stock manipulation probe

The special prosecutor's team, tasked with investigating the remaining cases from three special probes, is set to summon prosecutors who handled the investigation into First Lady Kim Keon-hee's alleged involvement in stock manipulation. This move signals a deepening scrutiny into the handling of the case, particularly concerning the decision to not indict the First Lady.

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The comprehensive special prosecutor's team plans to summon prosecutors from the time for questioning today regarding the investigation into the alleged cover-up of the investigation into First Lady Kim Keon-hee's Deutsch Motors stock manipulation.

According to Hankyoreh's reporting, the special prosecutor's team intends to conduct face-to-face interviews with key figures from the previous investigation. This includes Choi Jae-hoon, who led the anti-corruption investigation division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Kim Min-gu, a prosecutor at the Gongju District Prosecutor's Office. The focus of these interviews will be to ascertain whether any undue leniency or preferential treatment was given during the process that led to the dismissal of charges against the First Lady.

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The comprehensive special prosecutor's team plans to conduct face-to-face investigations starting at 10 a.m. today with Choi Jae-hoon, then head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2, and Kim Min-gu, chief prosecutor of the Gongju District Prosecutor's Office.

The investigation is particularly interested in the period following the prosecutors' office's decision to not indict Kim Keon-hee on charges related to the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation and the acceptance of a Dior bag. This decision came just three months after the First Lady was interviewed while on a trip. The special prosecutor's team suspects that the investigation records may have been manipulated to fit a predetermined conclusion of innocence for the First Lady.

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The special prosecutor's team is intensely scrutinizing whether there was leniency in the prosecution's decision to not indict Kim Keon-hee on charges of stock manipulation and accepting a Dior bag in October 2024.

This development is significant as it brings renewed attention to allegations of impropriety in the handling of cases involving high-profile individuals. From a South Korean perspective, such investigations are crucial for maintaining public trust in the justice system and ensuring accountability, regardless of an individual's position. Hankyoreh, known for its progressive stance, is closely following these developments, highlighting the public's expectation for a thorough and impartial investigation.

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The special prosecutor's team suspects that the investigation records were tailored to fit the conclusion of Kim Keon-hee's non-indictment and is proceeding with the investigation.