Yoon, ACRC's 'Second-in-Command' Met Late at Night on Kim Keon Hee Probe Deadline

A recent revelation has sent shockwaves through South Korea, exposing a late-night meeting between former President Yoon Suk Yeol and Jeong Seung-yoon, the former deputy chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), on the very day the ACRC was set to finalize its investigation into the First Lady Kim Keon Hee's alleged luxury bag incident. This meeting, held at the presidential residence, is particularly contentious as Yoon and his wife, Kim, were the subjects of the investigation. The timing and nature of this encounter raise serious questions about potential undue influence on the ACRC's decision-making process.

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It was confirmed that contact occurred at the presidential residence (in Hannam-dong) on March 18, 2024, which was exactly the deadline for the statutory processing period under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

Adding to the controversy, the ACRC concluded its investigation a staggering 116 days beyond the statutory 60-day limit, ultimately ruling that there was 'no violation.' This decision was met with widespread criticism, with many labeling it a 'get out of jail free' card for the First Lady. The ACRC's current chairman, Jeong Chun-young, has now initiated a probe into Jeong Seung-yoon, the former deputy chairman, for alleged violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. This investigation stems from suspicions that the meeting at the presidential residence involved a quid pro quo, with Jeong Seung-yoon potentially seeking to influence the investigation's outcome.

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Contacting the party involved during the investigation process is itself an improper contact, and there is suspicion about what other solicitations occurred during that contact.

Chairman Jeong Chun-young stated that any contact between an investigator and the subject of an investigation is inherently improper. He expressed suspicion that 'other solicitations' might have occurred during the meeting, prompting the referral of Jeong Seung-yoon to the police. The chairman also revealed that the ACRC's decision to close the case was contrary to the opinions of the investigators involved, who believed the case should not have been dismissed. The fact that the public witnessed the events on television, yet the ACRC reached a vastly different conclusion, has fueled public distrust and demands for a thorough investigation into the decision-making process.

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The investigator's opinion was clearly different. The case should not have been closed.

Furthermore, the investigation has uncovered evidence of workplace harassment and retaliation by Jeong Seung-yoon against the late Kim, the former ACRC deputy director of anti-corruption, who had expressed dissenting opinions regarding the handling of the luxury bag case. Kim had reportedly faced significant disadvantages and public criticism from Jeong Seung-yoon for allegedly leaking internal information. This new information adds another layer of complexity to the scandal, suggesting a pattern of misconduct within the ACRC during the Yoon administration. The ongoing police investigation is expected to shed further light on these serious allegations and the extent of any potential cover-up.

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The ACRC's decision was so different from the results that the entire nation watched on TV, forcing us to re-examine why such a decision was made.