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Special Counsel Min Jung-ki answers reporters’ questions outside his office in Seocho District, Seoul, on June 17, ahead of the investigation into former first lady Kim Keon-hee. / Source: Yonhap News

On June 18, the Office of the President announced the appointment of four deputy special counsels to assist Special Counsel Min Jung-ki in investigating allegations against former first lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol. The selections highlight a team heavy with experience in elite criminal investigations.

The four appointees are Kim Hyung-geun and Park Sang-jin (both 29th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), Oh Jung-hee (30th), and Moon Hong-joo (31st).

Kim Hyung-geun, formerly a top prosecutor known for his expertise in special investigations, held key positions including head of special divisions at the Busan and Incheon District Prosecutors’ Offices, director of investigation policy at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, and head of the anti-corruption division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. He retired from public service in July 2022 and now practices law at the major firm Lee & Ko.

Park Sang-jin has an extensive background in special and serious crime investigations, having served in key prosecutorial roles in Daegu, Seoul Central, Incheon, Ulsan, and Goyang. He also left the prosecution in July 2022 and currently heads the Jungang N Nambu Law Office.

Oh Jung-hee, the only female deputy counsel among the four, served as deputy chief of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office, chief of the women and children’s crimes unit at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office, and later headed the criminal division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. Since August 2022, she has led TY Lawyers as a managing attorney.

Moon Hong-joo, a former judge, served at courts in Changwon, Ansan, Seoul, Daejeon, and Suwon. He transitioned to private practice in February 2023 and now leads Inseong Law Office.

With these appointments, Special Counsel Min is expected to finalize a large investigation team of up to 205 personnel, including dispatched prosecutors, civil servants, and special investigators. Following a 20-day preparatory period, the investigation is set to officially begin in early July. The total period allowed for the probe is up to 170 days.

The special counsel will investigate 16 categories of allegations, including stock manipulation involving Deutsche Motors and Sambu Construction, misuse of undisclosed government information for profit, and the acceptance of luxury goods such as designer handbags and diamond necklaces. The scope also covers allegations of illegal or falsified opinion polls, political interference through broker Tae-gyun Myung, and connections to controversial religious figure Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geonjin Bopsa.