After the "three special counsels" ("insurrection special counsel," "Kim Keon-hee special counsel," and "fallen marine special counsel"), a second comprehensive special counsel to investigate the remaining suspicions was formally launched on the 25th.
The second special counsel held a signboard unveiling ceremony at its office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, that day, signaling the start of a full-scale investigation.
Special Counsel Kwon Chang-young attended the unveiling along with Assistant Special Counsels Kwon Young-bin, Kim Jeong-min, Kim Ji-mi, and Jin Eul-jong. One remaining assistant special counsel will be appointed later.
Right after the ceremony, Kwon said at a briefing, "Since the launch of the three special counsels, many results have been achieved, but reflecting the public view that there were shortcomings, the second comprehensive special counsel has been launched." Kwon added, "The special counsel system is a 'sword of the Constitution' to safeguard the Constitution and secure trust in the criminal justice system," and said, "We will maintain political neutrality and fairness to the greatest extent and conduct a thorough probe with no sanctuary, solely in the direction indicated by the law and the evidence."
Under the second comprehensive special counsel act, which passed the National Assembly's plenary session on the 16th, the second special counsel will investigate the parts insufficiently probed by the three special counsels and suspicions of election and power interference related to former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his spouse.
There are 17 targets of investigation in total. They include suspicions that a Dec. 3 emergency martial law was planned and prepared, such as the dissolution of the National Assembly noted in the "Noh Sang-won notebook," suspicions of inducing a North Korea provocation through threatening flights by armed helicopters (foreign exchange suspicions), and suspicions of first lady Kim Keon-hee's interference in state affairs and personnel. The second special counsel is said to have recently received case files, indictments, and other related materials from the three special counsels.
The second special counsel will soon visit, in turn, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the Korean National Police Agency's National Office of Investigation (NOI), and the Ministry of National Defense's special investigation headquarters to request cooperation, and also plans a courtesy call on the three special counsels.
The second special counsel can be staffed with up to 251 people, including 15 prosecutors on assignment, 100 special investigators, and 130 seconded public officials. It plans to sequentially add the necessary personnel through future assignments and hiring procedures.
The basic investigation period for the special counsel is 90 days. It can be extended twice by 30 days each, so including a 20-day preparation period, the probe can last up to 170 days. If the investigation is not completed within the period or a decision on whether to indict is not made, the case must be handed over to the National Office of Investigation (NOI).