Former President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife Kim Geon-hee are heading to their private residence, Acro Vista in Seocho-dong, after leaving the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, a week following the Constitutional Court’s dismissal decision on April 11. Reporter Kwon Do-hyeon.
Special Prosecutor Lee Myung-hyun’s team, investigating the case of alleged suppression of an investigation into the death of Marine Corps Corporal Chae, announced that they have secured the actual encrypted phone (anti-eavesdropping mobile phone) used by former President Yoon Seok-yeol’s wife, Kim Geon-hee, as well as her communication records. The special prosecutor’s team plans to provide the analysis of Kim’s encrypted phone usage records to the special prosecutor investigating Kim Geon-hee.
On the morning of the 1st, Special Prosecutor Jeong Min-young held a briefing at the special prosecutor’s office in Seocho Hanssem Building, Seocho-gu, Seoul, stating, “We have secured the actual encrypted phone and communication records used by Mrs. Kim by the 31st of the previous month,” adding that “we will provide the seized items and communication records to the special prosecutor investigating Kim Geon-hee through a voluntary submission process following the execution of a warrant.”
Previously, the special prosecutor’s team executed a search and seizure warrant on the encrypted phone communication records used by the Presidential Office, Ministry of National Defense, and military officials on the 24th, aiming to secure the encrypted phone communication records of over 20 key figures related to the incident, including former President Yoon and his wife, former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, and former 1st Marine Division Commander Lim Seong-geun. The team plans to hold discussions with Kim Geon-hee’s special prosecutor on providing Kim’s encrypted phone records later in the afternoon.
Special Prosecutor Jeong expects that by next week, they will be able to determine specifically what kind of encrypted phone Kim was using and how many she had. He also stated that they expect to receive call records of former President Yoon, former Minister Lee, and others from the Presidential Security Service next week.
The special prosecutor’s team has scheduled to summon Jeon Ha-kyu, the spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, and former Marine Corps Deputy Commander Jeong Jong-beom as references for investigation on the morning of the 5th at 10 AM. The former spokesperson was present when the initial investigation records of Corporal Chae’s death were reported to the former minister on July 30, 2023. Special Prosecutor Jeong described Jeon as “a person who knows well about the series of rapidly changing circumstances, such as the cancellation of the press briefing of the investigation results the next day.”
Continuing, Special Prosecutor Jeong stated, “Former Deputy Commander Jeong was called by former Minister Lee to attend a meeting after the cancellation of the media briefing on July 31, 2023, following the announcement of the Marine Corps investigation results.” He indicated that the team intends to verify the instructions given by former Minister Lee and any subsequent actions.