Comprehensive Special Counsel Investigation Period Extended for Second Time; 'Final Month' Until July 24

▲ Special Counsel Kwon Chang-young at the signboard hanging ceremony

The investigation period for the second comprehensive special counsel team has been extended once more.

The special counsel team announced today (June 23) that "the President approved the request for an extension of the investigation period yesterday," adding, "Accordingly, the investigation period has been extended until July 24."

Under the Special Counsel Act, the investigation period can be extended up to two times, for 30 days each.

This extension marks the second and final deadline extension permitted under the Special Counsel Act.

The special counsel team, which officially launched with a signboard hanging ceremony last February, has been investigating 32 major cases transferred from the remaining investigations related to the emergency martial law, Kim Keon-hee, and the death of a Marine.

Meanwhile, the special counsel team refuted the position of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, which stated that "all necessary materials were submitted to the court through the comprehensive special counsel" regarding the 'salmon and alcohol party perjury' trial of Lee Hwa-young, former Vice Governor for Peace of Gyeonggi Province, stating that there is "room for misunderstanding."

Previously, Lee, who was found guilty in the first trial regarding the 'salmon and alcohol party' perjury charges, claimed that "the prosecution refused to submit investigation materials, preventing a sufficient review of the case."

In response, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office issued a statement yesterday, emphasizing that "the defense counsel's claim that the guilty verdict was rendered with key evidence for innocence omitted is not true, and all necessary materials were submitted to the court through the comprehensive special counsel."

Regarding this position from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the comprehensive special counsel team stated, "There is room for misunderstanding that the comprehensive special counsel judged and submitted the materials necessary to confirm the defendant's guilt or innocence."

The special counsel team noted, "We did respond to the court's request for document submission on May 18," but emphasized, "The content of the response was merely the submission of documents specifically requested by the court from the entire records of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office task force, and it was not done with full consideration of anyone's position."

They added, "The defense team has announced to the media that they plan to appeal the case," and continued, "The comprehensive special counsel will actively cooperate so that all materials generated by the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office task force can be submitted to the appellate court to verify the substantive truth."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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