The second comprehensive special counsel investigation, which is looking into remaining allegations after the three major special counsel probes, revealed that it "confirmed an attempted intervention by the Yoon Suk-yeol government's Presidential Office" in the so-called "witness coercion allegation case" transferred from the prosecution.
Special Counsel Assistant Kwon Young-bin said at a regular briefing held at the special counsel team's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Tuesday, "In early last month, during the investigation into Ssangbangwool Group's remittance to North Korea, we confirmed circumstances suggesting the Yoon Suk-yeol government's Presidential Office attempted to intervene." He added, "Accordingly, we requested the case be transferred from the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Human Rights Violation Task Force."
Kwon went on to say, "We view this case as a suspected 'mega state affairs manipulation' by state power," adding, "We have requested the Ministry of Justice to dispatch prosecutors for the investigation."
The comprehensive special counsel had earlier requested the transfer on the grounds that the case falls under Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 13 of the Comprehensive Special Counsel Act. The provision defines investigation targets as "criminal allegations that Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee received reports on investigation developments related to their own or others' cases, and caused violations of due process or abuse of investigative authority — including concealment, cover-up, coercion, evidence fabrication, or evidence destruction — in connection with investigation and indictment procedures." This means the special counsel launched its investigation with the possibility in mind that the Yoon Suk-yeol government intervened and attempted to coerce witness statements through prosecutors.
However, some critics argued that the transfer of the "witness coercion allegation case" represents the comprehensive special counsel unreasonably expanding its investigation scope, as the matter differs in nature from the original three special counsel investigation targets. In response, Special Counsel Assistant Kwon stressed, "Allegations related to specific private companies such as Ssangbangwool or the so-called 'salmon liquor party' allegations themselves are not included in the investigation targets," adding, "The target and purpose of our investigation is the state affairs manipulation allegations."
The comprehensive special counsel also revealed that it has detected circumstances suggesting First Lady Kim Keon-hee received additional luxury goods in connection with allegations involving the presidential residence. Special Counsel Assistant Kim Ji-mi said, "We confirmed circumstances indicating that Mrs. Kim additionally received luxury goods in connection with construction work at the presidential residence," adding, "We conducted search and seizure operations at the offices and the residence of the representative of the related company." However, the specific bribe provider, timing of receipt, and value were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday issued a suspension of duties against Prosecutor Park Sang-yong, who is under inspection for alleged misconduct including violation of official duties during the investigation into the Ssangbangwool Group's North Korea remittance case. The prosecution plans to continue its inspection through the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Human Rights Violation Task Force separately from the investigation transferred to the comprehensive special counsel, and take follow-up measures based on the results.