Police Reach Final Decision Not to Prosecute Kim Geon-hee on Allegations of False Career Claims

Negotiations Underway to Summon Representative Lee Jun-seok
Investigation Expected to Conclude Within This Month

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The police, who have been investigating allegations of false career claims by Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, have reached a final decision not to transfer the case to the prosecution.

Nam Gu-jun, head of the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, stated at a regular press briefing on the 5th, "After thorough investigation including questioning related parties, analyzing materials, and reviewing legal grounds regarding (the allegations against Mrs. Kim), it was difficult to recognize the charges, so a decision of non-prosecution was made on the 2nd." It is reported that the police judged the charges of obstruction of business and forgery of private documents against Mrs. Kim as 'no prosecution' due to the statute of limitations (7 years) having passed, and the fraud charges as 'no suspicion.' The allegations of false career claims against Mrs. Kim, first raised in October last year when President Yoon was a presidential candidate, have thus been tentatively concluded. Although there remains a possibility of reinvestigation due to objections from the accuser or requests for supplementary investigation by the prosecution, there is a prevailing view within and outside the police that the case will be closed as the statute of limitations for the main charges such as forgery of private documents has clearly expired.

The allegations center on Mrs. Kim submitting false or exaggerated career information and forged career certificates when applying as a lecturer at Hallym Sacred Heart University, Seoil University, Suwon Women's University, Anyang University, and Kookmin University from 2001 to 2014. The National Movement Headquarters for Private School Reform and Eradication of Corruption and the People's Livelihood Economy Research Institute filed a complaint with the police last December accusing Mrs. Kim of forgery of private documents, use of forged private documents, obstruction of business, and fraud. After investigating the complainants, university officials, and other related parties, the police received a written response from Mrs. Kim's side regarding the written investigation in July this year.

Lee Jun-seok, Leader of the People Power Party / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Meanwhile, Nam, the head of the headquarters, said on the same day that the plan to summon Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, who is under investigation for allegations of sexual bribery, is "under coordination." Regarding allegations of interference in the investigation by the ruling party raised by some, he said, "I understand that the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is conducting the investigation according to law and principles," and added, "So far, no specific facts have been confirmed regarding interference in the investigation." Earlier, Kim Kwang-ho, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, also stated at a press briefing on the 29th of last month, "There has been no contact or phone calls with so-called Yoon core figures, and there will be none in the future," and "The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will investigate according to law and principles without any wavering."

Nam expressed his intention to conclude the investigation into Lee within this month. He said, "There is a statute of limitations issue," and added, "The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief has the same position." When asked exactly when the statute of limitations expires, he said, "The investigation team knows, but it is difficult to specify," and explained, "It is certain that it will be within this month."

Lee Jae-myung, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Regarding criticism from the opposition that the investigation authorities are being dragged into politics following the prosecution's recent summons notice to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Nam drew a clear line, saying, "Not at all." He added, "The allegations such as the Seongnam FC sponsorship are still under investigation, and we can only proceed according to the law and principles that we always emphasize."

Regarding the fact that an investigator belonging to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, who is investigating preferential treatment allegations related to the development project in Gongheung District, Yangpyeong, involving President Yoon's mother-in-law Choi, was invited to the presidential inauguration ceremony, Nam said, "I understand that the investigator was invited and attended as a recipient of the Cheongryong Volunteer Award," and added, "I do not think it will affect the related investigation." Nam further explained, "Investigations are conducted by organizations and teams, so even if one person attended the inauguration, it does not significantly affect the investigation," and "Since this has become somewhat of an issue now, there seems to be no particular reason for us to conduct a special investigation, and I think the investigation will be conducted more carefully."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.