On the 19th, the An Kwonsub Permanent Special Prosecutor’s Team, which is investigating the “suspected disposal of the currency bundle’s band,” executed a search and verification warrant against the Korea Bank’s Issuance Department in Sogong-dong, Seoul. Reporter Han Subin was present.
The special prosecutor began a search and verification of the Bank of Korea on the 19th as part of their investigation into suspicions around the disposal of the currency bundle’s band. This marks the special prosecutor’s first external forced investigation since its establishment. The prosecutor explained that this is an “investigative preliminary procedure” to confirm what information is contained on the bands and stickers.
Starting around 8:56 AM, the special prosecutor dispatched prosecutors and investigators to the Bank of Korea’s Issuance Department in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, to carry out the warrant. The execution of the warrant involved eight people, including Special Prosecutor Kim Ki-uk and Prosecutor Han Joo-dong.
The special prosecutor initiated the search and verification to confirm comprehensive information on the currency bundles, including their manufacturing, authentication (the process of selecting counterfeit and damaged currency), storage, and distribution. The warrant issued by the court did not include the seizure of items.
At around 8:54 AM, Special Prosecutor Kim met with reporters in front of the Bank of Korea’s main building and explained that “the investigation’s preliminary procedure needs to confirm exactly what information is contained in the bands and stickers, as it serves as the basis for the investigation.”
Currency bundles, which are newly printed by the Mint or re-packaged used currency checked and sealed by commercial banks, are sealed with bands and stickers by the Bank of Korea to guarantee their amount and condition. The band includes information such as the name of the Bank of Korea, the inspection department, the inspector, and the machine number.
In December last year, the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office seized the Bank of Korea’s currency bundles from the house of Mr. Jeon Sung-bae, a shaman. During the storage process, the bands and stickers were lost, raising suspicions of “intentional loss.” The Supreme Prosecutor’s Office concluded through an audit that the loss was due to a person in charge’s negligence and not instructions from higher authorities.
However, Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho believed that an independent agency needed to investigate these suspicions and instructed a permanent special prosecutor’s investigation. The special prosecutor’s investigation commenced on the 6th. This was the first time the special prosecutor launched a compulsory investigation against an external agency.