[2024 National Audit] Park Seongjae: "There Must Be a Reason Why Mrs. Kim's Deutsche Case Was Not Handled in 2021"

Criticism of Non-Prosecution Decision on Kim Geon-hee's Luxury Bag: "No Spouse Punishment Clause in the Anti-Graft Act"

Minister of Justice Park Seong-jae is reporting on work at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Ministry of Justice on the 8th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae responded to the media reports repeatedly raising suspicions of Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, being involved in stock price manipulation of Deutsche Motors by saying, "If this information alone is sufficient for prosecution, why was it not handled during the 2021 investigation? There must be a clear reason for that."

On the 8th, during the Ministry of Justice's audit by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Park answered a question asking, "What do you think about the media's analysis that the prosecution is likely not to indict Mrs. Kim in relation to the Deutsche Motors case?"

Park explained, "All the various exclusive reports currently causing issues were based on materials collected around October to November 2021, and these were not hidden or concealed but were even submitted as evidence in court." He added, "There must definitely be a reason why those who investigated the case with the (then Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's) command authority excluded could not handle it, and I think those currently conducting the investigation are facing the same dilemma."

Regarding the incident involving Mrs. Kim receiving luxury handbags, he stated, "The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act does not include punishment provisions for spouses," and since there is no recognition of job-relatedness, public officials are not obligated to report it either. When Jeong Cheong-rae, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, criticized, "It is illegal for public officials and their spouses to receive (money or goods). Please refrain from statements that deny the law," Park responded, "While the declarative meaning of the legal provision is as such, the punishment provisions are different."

Concerning the allegations of Mrs. Kim's interference in the nomination of Mr. Myung Tae-gyun, Park stated, "The Changwon District Prosecutors' Office is currently investigating the problematic parts, and I understand they will handle it according to law and principles."

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