Comprehensive Special Investigation Team Investigates Prosecution Team Over "Kim Keonhee Investigation Cover-Up"

Special Prosecutor Team Expansion Underway
Two Candidates Recommended to the President

The Second Comprehensive Special Investigation Team, led by Changyoung Kwon, questioned officials from the prosecution's investigative team involved in the "alleged cover-up of the Kim Keonhee investigation" as witnesses last week.

Changyoung Kwon, Special Prosecutor Kim Jimi of the Second Comprehensive Special Investigation Team, is briefing on investigation matters at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on the 30th. Photo by Yonhap News

Special Prosecutor Kim Jimi stated during a briefing held at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of March 30, 2026, "We summoned and questioned individuals related to the 2024 investigation team, and we will continue to conduct additional interviews sequentially in the future."

The "alleged investigation cover-up" centers on claims that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office decided not to indict First Lady Kim Keonhee, who was suspected as an accomplice in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, without conducting a sufficient investigation.

Previously, the Second Anti-Corruption Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which handled the case at the time, concluded that Mrs. Kim had entrusted the management of her account to Kwon Osoo, former chairman of Deutsche Motors and CEO of a listed company, believing in his judgment and aiming for profit, but was unaware of the price manipulation scheme. As a result, she was cleared of charges of violating the Capital Markets Act.

It was reported that the prosecution did not summon Mrs. Kim for questioning, but instead visited facilities managed by the Presidential Security Service to conduct the investigation. This led to criticism that the investigation team may have given her special treatment to avoid having her stand before the media photo line.

In response, the comprehensive special investigation team suspected that an unidentified higher-up had abused their authority to improperly pressure for a non-indictment decision. On March 23, 2026, the team conducted raids on the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, among others.

Meanwhile, the comprehensive special investigation team also plans to appoint additional special prosecutors. The authorized number of special prosecutors for the team is five, but currently only four (Kwon Youngbin, Kim Jeongmin, Kim Jimi, and Jin Euljong) have been appointed and are active. Special Prosecutor Kim stated, "To investigate the cases received from the Third Special Prosecutor and the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, it is necessary to bring in additional special prosecutors," adding, "We have recommended two candidates for special prosecutor positions to the president."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.