Lee Chanjin on "Special Prosecutor Min Junggi Stock Allegations": "Statute of Limitations Expired, Reinvestigation Difficult" [2025 National Audit]

by Lee Changhwan

Published 21 Oct.2025 14:56(KST)

Ruling and opposition parties clash during National Assembly Political Affairs Committee audit

Lee Chanjin, Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, is attending the 2025 National Assembly Political Affairs Committee audit held on the 21st at the National Assembly, responding to lawmakers' questions. Photo by Yonhap News

The ruling and opposition parties clashed on October 21 during the Financial Supervisory Service audit by the National Assembly Political Affairs Committee over suspicions of insider trading involving Special Prosecutor Min Junggi.

Special Prosecutor Min, who is investigating allegations surrounding First Lady Kim Keonhee, was found to have made over 150 million won in profits by selling shares of the solar energy materials company Neosemitech around 2010, when he was a High Court chief judge (vice-ministerial level). This has led to suspicions that he may have used undisclosed information.

Lee Yangsoo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, said during the audit, "Special Prosecutor Min used his friendship with the owner of Neosemitech to sell all his shares right before the company was delisted, making billions of won in profit. If we check the trading records from just a week before the delisting, it will be easy to see who was tipped off and sold their shares in advance."

Kim Jaeseop, another lawmaker from the same party, added, "If Special Prosecutor Min, who investigates economic crimes, is himself under suspicion for stock trading, how can the public trust the results of his investigations? We should summon Special Prosecutor Min to the Political Affairs Committee audit and give him an opportunity to explain himself directly."

In response, Park Beomgye, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, argued, "It feels like this audit is about Special Prosecutor Min Junggi, not the Financial Supervisory Service. Bringing up a case from 15 years ago to attack the special prosecutor is ultimately just an attempt to protect Kim Keonhee."

Lee Chanjin, Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, commented, "We investigated this matter in 2010 and reported and referred 13 individuals to the prosecution. Since the statute of limitations has long expired, a reinvestigation would be practically difficult." He added, "Although there are statute of limitations issues, if there is anything that still needs to be looked into, we will review it."