The standing special counsel investigating allegations of a "missing bank band on bundled cash" summoned and questioned the senior prosecutors who handled the case at the time.
On Feb. 6, the special counsel summoned former Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Hee-dong as a suspect on charges including instigating destruction of evidence and dereliction of duty. Former Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office Chief Prosecutor Shin Eung-seok was summoned and questioned as a reference witness. The special counsel said Shin was called as a reference witness because the complaint case related to the former chief prosecutor has not yet been transferred to the special counsel. This was the first time the two appeared before the special counsel for questioning.
In Dec. 2024, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office searched the home of Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geonjin, and seized bundles of cash worth 165 million won. Former investigation chief Choi Seon-young, who took part in verifying the seized items, reportedly testified that there were three types of cash: bank-issued bundles sealed in plastic, cash bound with a Shinhan Bank band, and cash tied with rubber bands.
Bank-bundled cash is divided into newly issued notes (issued by the mint) and circulation notes that have been sorted and organized for reuse, and the latter come with plastic wrapping labeled "for use," bearing the packaging date and time and quantity. Photos taken by the investigative team at the time also indicated that the sticker on the bundles was marked "for use."
Prosecutors, however, failed to trace the source of the cash and handed the case over to the special counsel currently investigating allegations related to Kim Keon-hee. They said tracing was difficult because the bank bands and stickers listing the inspection date, responsible staff, and department for the bundles were lost. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office was said to have explained that staff lost the bands and other materials while counting the cash.
The special counsel plans to verify with the former chief prosecutor and others the procedures for managing seized items, the circumstances of the loss, and subsequent actions. On Feb. 3, the special counsel also summoned and questioned investigators from the seizure division who handled related practical matters as suspects.