Police Suspend Investigation into 'Yoon Couple Cat Tower Allegations'... Prosecution Demands Continued Inquiry

The prosecution has requested corrective action regarding the police decision to suspend the investigation into former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife's alleged misappropriation of the official residence's cat tower.

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol attended the first trial on charges of "obstruction of special official duties and abuse of authority interfering with the exercise of rights" held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on September 26, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps

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The Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Shin Douk) announced on the 13th that it has requested corrective action concerning the Seocho Police Station's decision to suspend the investigation into the complaint filed against former President Yoon and his wife for alleged embezzlement in the course of their duties, which falls under its jurisdiction.

The case centers on allegations that former President Yoon and his wife, upon returning to their private residence in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on April 11 last year after the impeachment decision, took items such as a cat tower purchased with state funds for personal use. Additionally, there were suspicions that they used residence operating expenses for private dinners following the impeachment. When evidence emerged at the time that the cat tower and other items were being moved, the civic group Justice Solidarity filed a complaint against the couple on charges of embezzlement, prompting an investigation.

The Seocho Police Station, which received the case, continued the investigation by questioning the complainant in June last year. However, last month, the police decided to suspend the investigation, citing that the suspects are currently undergoing separate trials and that the National Office of Investigation is conducting a separate inquiry into the residence operating expenses. Under current law, when the police suspend an investigation, the prosecution receives the case records for one month to review the appropriateness of the decision.

After receiving and reviewing the case records from Seocho Police Station on the 2nd, the prosecution determined that the decision to suspend the investigation was unjustified. The prosecution explained, "It is not in accordance with relevant laws to suspend the investigation until the records of the related case being handled by the National Office of Investigation are received," adding, "It is appropriate to continue the investigation," thus clarifying the reason for the corrective action request. According to the Criminal Procedure Act, if the prosecution requests corrective action, the police must comply without delay unless there is a legitimate reason not to do so.

An official from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated, "We will continue to work closely with the police station in charge to clearly uncover the facts surrounding these allegations."

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