Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecutor Expresses Concern Over Impact of Disclosing Yangpyeong Official's Report... Considering Summoning Yoon for Questioning

"No Evidence of Coercive Investigation," Allegations Dismissed
Yoon Appears Before Insurrection Special Prosecutor... Kim Gun-hee Probe Also Considering Summons

The special prosecutor team led by Min Joong-ki, which is investigating various allegations against Kim Gun-hee, has refused a defense attorney's request to share the suspect interrogation report containing the testimony of a deceased public official from Yangpyeong, identified as Mr. A. The defense claimed that the investigation involved "coercive tactics" and applied for access and copies of the report, but the special prosecutor’s team rejected the request, stating it was "related to the investigation."

Min Joong-ki, the special prosecutor in charge of the case related to allegations against Kim Gun-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, along with deputy special prosecutors, unveiled the office signboard at the special prosecutor's office set up in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul on July 2, 2025. From left: Moon Hong-ju and Park Sang-jin, deputy special prosecutors; Min Joong-ki, special prosecutor; Kim Hyung-geun and Oh Jung-hee, deputy special prosecutors; Hong Ji-hang, support team leader. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

On the 15th, Deputy Special Prosecutor Park Sang-jin stated at a regular briefing, "We have decided not to disclose the request for access and copies made by the attorney of the late Yangpyeong public official," adding, "According to the Information Disclosure Act, if there is sufficient reason to believe that disclosure would significantly impede the performance of official duties as it pertains to investigative matters, it may be withheld."

He continued, "The termination of the attorney-client relationship due to the individual's death was also taken into consideration," and added, "If the bereaved family appoints a legal representative and submits a new request for access and copies, we will review it again, but it is questionable whether the nature of the information subject to disclosure under the Information Disclosure Act would change."

The deceased public official, Mr. A, appeared before the special prosecutor’s team as a suspect on July 2, 2025, regarding the 'Yangpyeong Gongheung District development preferential treatment allegations.' He was found dead at his home in Yangpyeong-eup, Yangpyeong County, on July 10. In a handwritten note left by Mr. A, he described psychological distress related to the investigation and claimed that he was pressured to testify that he followed the instructions of Kim Sun-kyo, a People Power Party lawmaker who was the Yangpyeong County Governor at the time.

Park Kyung-ho, Mr. A’s attorney, held a press conference the previous day and announced plans to file a complaint against the special prosecutor’s team on charges including abuse of authority. Attorney Park asserted, "The interrogation report prepared by the special prosecutor’s team contains false information," and claimed, "The special prosecutor’s team, in collusion with then-Yangpyeong County Governor Kim, forced Mr. A to give testimony alleging that development charges were unfairly exempted for the company owned by Mrs. Kim’s family."

Regarding the "coercive investigation" allegations, Deputy Special Prosecutor Park explained, "At this time, we have not confirmed any clear coercion or problematic investigative practices." He added, "Today, Jeon Jin-seon, the current Yangpyeong County Governor, visited the special prosecutor’s office and had a meeting with the responsible deputy special prosecutor for about 30 minutes starting at 1:20 p.m. The Yangpyeong County Governor requested that, if investigations of Yangpyeong County officials continue in the future, they be conducted with greater care, and the deputy special prosecutor listened respectfully to this request."

Meanwhile, the special prosecutor’s team is also considering summoning former President Yoon Suk-yeol for questioning. Deputy Special Prosecutor Park stated, "We also believe it is necessary to investigate former President Yoon, so we will monitor the situation and review the schedule accordingly."

The special prosecutor team for insurrection (led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok) began questioning former President Yoon Suk-yeol from the morning of the same day regarding allegations at the center of the "Pyongyang drone deployment" and other foreign exchange issues. This is the first time former President Yoon has responded to the special prosecutor’s summons since his detention.

Initially, the special prosecutor’s team planned to visit Seoul Detention Center and forcibly bring in former President Yoon, but as he voluntarily expressed his intention to appear, no physical confrontation occurred. It is reported that former President Yoon is exercising his right to remain silent in response to all questions from the special prosecutor’s team.