The investigation deadline for the second comprehensive special counsel, which is probing allegations left after the three special counsels, has been extended until July 24. This is the second extension allowed under the special counsel law, making it the final investigation period.
The special counsel said in a media notice on the 23rd that "the president approved the special counsel's request to extend the investigation period the previous day," adding, "the investigation period has been extended until July 24." The special counsel law allows the investigation deadline to be extended by 30 days, up to two times.
The special counsel held a plaque-unveiling ceremony in February and began the full-scale investigation. Among the remaining cases of the three special counsels that investigated the martial law-related insurrection case, allegations related to Kim Keon-hee, and the death of the Marine, 32 major cases were handed over.
Since its launch, over about four months, four people tied to allegations over the presidential residence transfer have been sent to trial. Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, former presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki, former secretary to the president for general affairs Yoon Jae-soon, and former secretary for management Kim O-jin have been indicted.
Special Counsel Kwon Chang-young has explained criticism about the slow pace as a so-called "heavy tail" strategy of concentrating detention warrant requests and indictments in the latter part of the investigation period. The additional one-month extension will be the time to gauge the results of the late-stage probe the special counsel pledged.
The special counsel also pushed back against the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's position that day regarding the trial over alleged "salmon-and-drinking party perjury" by former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office said the previous day, "It is not true that a guilty verdict was issued with key exculpatory evidence omitted, as the defense claims, and all necessary materials were submitted to the court through the special counsel."
Regarding the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's position, the special counsel said, "There is room for misunderstanding that the special counsel determined and submitted materials necessary to ascertain the defendant's guilt or innocence." It added, "While it is true that we replied to the court's request for document submission on May 18, the reply consisted only of the documents specifically designated by the court among the entire records of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office task force (TF)."
After being convicted at the first trial on the perjury charges related to the "salmon-and-drinking party," Lee's side has argued that sufficient review could not be conducted because the prosecution refused to submit investigative materials.
The special counsel said, "The defense team has told the media it plans to appeal this case," adding, "We will actively cooperate to ensure that all materials generated by the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office TF are submitted to the appellate court so the substantive truth can be confirmed."