Police have launched an investigation into Kim Ji-mi, a deputy special counsel on the second consolidated special counsel team, over remarks about the probe made on an internet broadcast.
Seodaemun Police Station in Seoul said on the 16th that on the 14th it received from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency a case assigning allegations against Deputy Special Counsel Kim of abuse of authority, disclosing suspects' identities and facts, and leaking official secrets.
Police plan to summon the complainant for questioning soon. Special Counsel Kwon Chang-young, who was reported along with Kim, also appears likely to become a subject of investigation on allegations including dereliction of duty.
On the 9th, Deputy Special Counsel Kim mentioned the special counsel team's staffing, key suspicions about investigation targets, and the progress of the probe on "Jeong Jun-hee's Non," a segment posted on the YouTube channel "Kim Ou-joon's Gimseoneun Himdeulda News Factory."
In response, the civic group Committee for the People's Livelihood said Kim engaged in inappropriate conduct that undermined the organization's foundation, such as "appearing on a YouTube channel with strong commercial intent and leaking investigation information," and on the 10th filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against Deputy Special Counsel Kim and Special Counsel Kwon.