Special Counsel Summons Former Senior Prosecutor Choi Jae-hoon as Suspect in 'Kim Keon-hee Investigation Cover-up' Allegations

The 2nd Comprehensive Special Counsel team, led by Kwon Chang-young, which is investigating remaining suspicions following the three major special counsel probes, has summoned Choi Jae-hoon, former head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Department 2 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, regarding the "Deutsch Motors investigation cover-up allegations."

The special counsel team has been questioning Choi as a suspect on charges including the drafting of false official documents since 10:00 a.m. today (June 16).

Arriving at the special counsel office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, around 9:50 a.m., Choi stated, "(The special counsel team) has summoned me as a suspect by identifying a separate criminal act of drafting false official documents, taking issue with the dates on investigation records prepared by our prosecutors." He added, "I believe the core issue that the comprehensive special counsel should be investigating under the Special Counsel Act is the allegation of a cover-up regarding the prosecution's investigation into higher-ups."

He reaffirmed his existing position, stating, "As I have said before, there were no unfair instructions or external pressure when I, as the lead prosecutor, investigated and handled the case. I clearly state that I, along with the investigation team, conducted the investigation strictly according to evidence and legal principles."

He further added, "I hope the special counsel will no longer misunderstand the substance and truth of this case."

The "investigation cover-up allegations" involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee center on claims that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office cleared Kim of charges without a proper investigation while disposing of the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case, despite her being identified as an accomplice.

At the time, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Department 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office concluded that Kim had merely entrusted her account management to Kwon Oh-soo, former chairman of Deutsch Motors and a listed company executive, in hopes of gaining profit, and was unaware of the market manipulation. Consequently, they cleared her of charges related to the Capital Markets Act due to "lack of evidence."

Instead of summoning Kim to the office for questioning, the prosecution conducted a private, off-site investigation at a facility managed by the Presidential Security Service.

This drew criticism from both inside and outside the prosecution, with many questioning whether she was granted special treatment to avoid being seen at a photo line.

Circumstances have also been identified where the investigation team internally drafted a "non-indictment opinion" before the case was disposed of, and subsequently modified some investigation reports after the decision was made.

The special counsel team suspects that the prosecution was unfairly involved in the decision to investigate Kim via an off-site visit rather than a summons, and in the final decision to clear her of charges.

The special counsel team views the post-facto modification of the investigation reports as an act of drafting false official documents.

Regarding these allegations, the special counsel team summoned and questioned Lee Chang-soo, former head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, as a suspect on charges including the drafting of false official documents yesterday (June 15).

Lee also completely denied the charges, claiming that the decision to clear Kim of charges was a judgment reached by the investigation team after legal review, and that the modification of the reports was merely to supplement them by reflecting points raised during media briefings.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.