Min Jung-gi, designated as the special prosecutor for the investigation into Kim Gun-hee, was seen leaving his office in Seocho-dong, Seoul, on the 13th. He stated, “I believe an investigation will be conducted” regarding the face-to-face investigation of Kim Gun-hee, the former first lady and wife of former President Yoon Seok-yeol.
On the 17th, Special Prosecutor Min, speaking with reporters outside his law office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, mentioned that there has been no contact from Kim Gun-hee’s side towards the special prosecutor’s office. Regarding Kim’s recent hospitalization, he said, “I learned about it through media reports” and added, “We have not yet determined the specific direction (of the investigation), and we will gradually discuss this further once the deputy special prosecutors have been appointed.” Kim was admitted to the Asan Medical Center in Seoul’s Songpa-gu the previous day due to a chronic illness.
Concerning the appointment of deputy special prosecutors, Min stated, “We have requested a prompt appointment from the presidential office, and I understand that various procedures, such as vetting, are currently underway.” He expressed hope that the appointments would occur as soon as possible, noting, “We have emphasized experience, expertise, and investigative capabilities in potential candidates, also considering their suitability for communication.”
The process of establishing a support team for the investigation and hiring special investigators is also underway. Min mentioned, “We need a substantial number of people to support the investigation team, so we have requested cooperation from relevant agencies for the formation of the preparatory support unit.” He added, “We plan to post job announcements for special investigator positions through organizations like the Korean Bar Association, and once the deputy special prosecutors are appointed, we’ll proceed with recommending and appointing special investigators.”
Regarding the special prosecutor’s office, Min noted, “We are in the process of discussing and finalizing two possible locations, and a decision is expected soon.” He also mentioned visiting relevant institutions to negotiate the dispatch of prosecutors at the team leader level who will lead the practical investigation work.