Kim Keon-hee's side said on the 29th regarding the announcement of the special counsel's investigation results into Kim Keon-hee that "an investigation does not end with words," adding, "Cases that have been indicted must be judged strictly through trial only according to the record, evidence, and the law."
The first lady's legal team said in a notice that afternoon, "In the upcoming trial, we will diligently appear in court while checking to the end whether procedural legitimacy and the right to defense are thoroughly guaranteed so that the facts are not exaggerated or distorted by a political frame."
Earlier, special counsel Min Joong-ki, who led the special probe into Kim Keon-hee, announced the results of the 180-day investigation that day. The special counsel said it had detained and indicted 20 people, including the first lady, and, including duplicate indictments, referred 76 people, including former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his spouse, for trial.
The special counsel said, "We confirmed in several cases that the public system of the Republic of Korea was severely damaged by the abuse of authority by the president's spouse," adding, "The investigation has ended, but we will ensure there is no negligence in maintaining the indictment going forward." However, it added, "Cases we could not handle due to time constraints and limits in investigative capacity will be transferred, in accordance with the law, to the Korean National Police Agency National Office of Investigation (NOI)."
Min said, "Kim Keon-hee used the status of the president's spouse to receive expensive money and valuables and intervened broadly in various personnel matters and nominations." Citing the nonappearance of those summoned and the expiration of the investigation period, the special counsel decided to hand over some remaining allegations, including suspicions that the probe into the first lady was quashed, to the National Office of Investigation (NOI).