Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor Investigation Launches Amid Personnel Verification Controversies

Investigation Framework Takes Shape

As the Lee Jae-myung administration marks one month since its inauguration, the special prosecutor investigation into Kim Keon-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, is gaining momentum. The investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok for the martial law case is set to begin its first investigation on the morning of July 5, while the Kim Keon-hee special prosecution team is finalizing its office setup at the KT Building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul.

The Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor team is currently in the final stages of office selection and is expected to launch full-scale investigations soon. The team plans to conduct comprehensive investigations into allegations surrounding Kim's receipt of luxury bags, suspected involvement in Deutsch Motors stock manipulation, and various other allegations that have surfaced.

Public Attention on Summons Timing

Recent footage of Kim Keon-hee leaving the hospital in a wheelchair has drawn criticism from the Democratic Party, with members comparing her treatment to that of "a chaebol chairman." This development has intensified public interest in when the special prosecutor team will summon her for questioning.

The timing of Kim's potential summons has become a major point of political focus, particularly as the investigation framework becomes more concrete. Legal experts suggest that the special prosecutor team will likely establish a clear investigative roadmap before proceeding with high-profile summons.

Personnel Verification Controversies

Meanwhile, the Lee Jae-myung administration faces ongoing controversies during its personnel verification process. Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok's confirmation hearing has become a focal point, with three major special prosecutor cases emerging as key issues.

Kim Min-seok served as head of the personnel verification team for the Presidential Transition Committee during Yoon Suk-yeol's president-elect period and later worked as a legal secretary in the presidential office, earning him the nickname "closest aide among close aides."

The Democratic Party points out that Kim Min-seok is likely to be questioned at least as a reference witness in the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor investigation. As legal secretary, he would have provided legal advice regarding Kim Keon-hee-related allegations during his time at the presidential office.

Political Confrontations Intensify

The emergence of three major special prosecutor issues as political talking points from the early days of the administration has intensified confrontations between ruling and opposition parties. The ruling party strongly supports Kim Min-seok as a "verified candidate," while the opposition plans to focus intensively on special prosecutor-related issues during the confirmation hearing.

The role of three-term or more National Assembly members in the confirmation hearing process is expected to be a crucial variable related to President Lee Jae-myung's governmental control. With political trust recovery being an urgent priority for the new administration, attention is focused on how the special prosecutor investigations and personnel verification processes will proceed.

Future Outlook and Reform Agenda

As the three major special prosecutor investigations—martial law, Kim Keon-hee, and the Corporal Chae case—begin full operation, the new administration's core tasks including prosecutorial reform and judicial reform are also expected to proceed simultaneously. The role of the Civil Affairs Office is drawing renewed attention, with rising public expectations for rooting out corruption and political renewal.

The concrete scheduling of the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor's first investigations and identification of summons targets is expected to become the political community's primary focus in the coming weeks. The investigation's progress will likely have significant implications for the new administration's early momentum and reform agenda.

This development represents a critical juncture for South Korean politics, as the new administration seeks to balance its reform mandate with the complexities of ongoing investigations inherited from the previous government.

Original: https://trendy.storydot.kr/politics/kim-keonhee-special-prosecutor-investigation-launches