'Three Special Prosecutors' Task Force Dissolved After Eight Months...Transition to Dedicated Investigation Team'

Multiple Additional Offenses Uncovered Beyond the Special Prosecutor's Knowledge and Referred for Prosecution
Dedicated Investigation Unit at the National Headquarters to Complete Remaining Cases

The Special Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, which has been investigating the remaining cases from the three special prosecutors, is being dissolved after eight months and will be reorganized into a dedicated investigation team. The Special Headquarters achieved results by uncovering allegations that had not been identified by the special prosecutor teams.

Kim Bojun, head of the Special Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, told reporters on the 28th, "It has been exactly eight months since the Special Headquarters launched its work with a profound sense of responsibility. We received 192 cases that sparked public suspicion and thoroughly investigated over 90% of them, resulting in 16 cases being referred to prosecutors. We are fortunate to have brought these matters to a close." The Special Headquarters, which was launched last year with a team of 109, is being dissolved as of today and will transition to a dedicated team led by Superintendent Kang Ilgu.

Former President Yoon Sukyeol delivers his closing statement at the verdict trial for charges including obstruction of official duties and abuse of authority at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, December 2025. Seoul Central District Court

The Special Headquarters consolidated and reclassified the 192 cases handed over by the three special prosecutors into 137 cases, and concluded investigations into 121 cases, including 16 referred for prosecution, 54 transferred to other agencies such as the Combined Special Prosecutor Team and the military, and 51 closed without referral or indictment.

Notably, the Special Headquarters discovered that Yoon Jae-soon, former Presidential Secretary for General Affairs, and Kang Eui-gu, former First Secretary to the Presidential Office, erased evidence related to insurrection by formatting computers inside the presidential residence after the unlawful emergency martial law incident. They were recently referred for prosecution without detention on charges of evidence destruction — an allegation not identified during the original special prosecutors' investigation.

In addition, Shin Yong-hae, former head of the Correctional Bureau at the Ministry of Justice, was found to have instructed the procurement of detention space for 'martial law proclamation violators' and was referred to prosecutors for engaging in key duties related to insurrection. In another case, during the 21st National Assembly by-election, the Special Headquarters investigated the suspected leak of People Power Party members' lists in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and referred Assemblywoman Cho Eun-hee and Myung Tae-gyun to prosecutors on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and the Personal Information Protection Act. The violation of the Personal Information Protection Act was the first criminal fact proven by the Special Headquarters.

During the investigation of allegations that former President Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee held a party aboard a Navy vessel, the Special Headquarters also uncovered charges against Kim Yong-hyun, former Minister of National Defense and then-Chief of the Presidential Security Service. Kim Seong-hoon, former Deputy Chief of the Security Service, was referred alongside him on charges of abuse of authority under the Presidential Security Act, after being found to have participated as the Head of Planning and Management in the scheme.

However, no additional investigations were conducted into the couple, former President Yoon and Kim Keon-hee. Kim Bojun, head of the headquarters, said, "Yoon Suk-yeol refused to meet investigators, citing court schedule conflicts, and Kim Keon-hee rejected all inquiries due to her physical and mental health conditions. As a result, we had no choice but to assess the charges based on existing investigations and witness testimony."

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