[Yonhap News file photo]The second comprehensive special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young, which is investigating allegations of a "cover-up" for Kim Keon-hee during the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation probe, has launched additional raids on the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Ministry of Justice.

Special Prosecutor Kim Ji-mi stated in a briefing on the 27th, "We are currently conducting search and seizure operations at the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in relation to the cover-up of the Deutsch Motors investigation."

The targets of the search include computers and messaging accounts used by then-Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae and the head of the Ministry's Criminal Planning Division, as well as servers of the prosecution's integrated information and communication network, where investigation records from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Anti-Corruption Investigation Department 2 were stored.

Special Prosecutor Kim explained, "This search and seizure is intended to determine whether the Ministry of Justice, the Presidential Office, or Kim Keon-hee intervened in the process leading to the non-indictment of Kim Keon-hee, and to examine changes made to the investigative records of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Department 2 at the time."

The allegations of an investigation cover-up center on the claim that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office dropped the case against First Lady Kim, who was identified as an accomplice, without a proper investigation while handling the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case.

At the time, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Department 2, which led the probe, dropped the charges of violating the Capital Markets Act, concluding that Kim had merely entrusted her account management to Kwon Oh-soo, former chairman of Deutsch Motors and a representative of a listed company, and was unaware of the market manipulation scheme.

The special counsel team suspects that the top leadership of the prosecution, including former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, unfairly intervened in the decision to drop the case and in the manner of questioning Kim, which was conducted via a "field visit" rather than a formal summons.

The team also views as problematic the fact that the investigative team exchanged written responses with Kim's side prior to questioning and revised the "comprehensive investigation report" after the case was closed.

The special counsel team previously raided the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in March and April to secure related materials regarding the cover-up allegations.

Special Prosecutor Kim Ji-mi giving a briefing (Gwacheon=Yonhap News) Reporter Seo Myung-gon = Kim Ji-mi, a special prosecutor on the second comprehensive special counsel team, is briefing on investigation-related matters at the special counsel office in Gwacheon on the 20th. 2026.7.20 hwayoung7@yna.co.kr

The special counsel team also revealed that it had sought an opinion from the special counsel for the insurrection case to determine whether to indict Cho Seong-hyun, the former commander of the 1st Security Group of the Army Capital Defense Command (colonel), who is suspected of participating in the insurrection.

The team is investigating the former colonel for his alleged role in carrying out a mission of importance for the insurrection, specifically focusing on the fact that he relayed the order to deploy to the National Assembly, given by former commander Lee Jin-woo, to the 2nd and 35th Special Mission Battalions.

In contrast, the previous insurrection special counsel team led by Cho Eun-seok had decided not to book the former colonel, concluding that he had responded passively to Lee's orders and ultimately refused to follow them.

Since the judgments of the two special counsel teams differ, the comprehensive special counsel team is expected to decide whether to proceed with an indictment after consulting with the previous special counsel team.

According to the amendment to the Comprehensive Special Counsel Act passed by the Cabinet on the 21st, the comprehensive special counsel team must consult with the previous special counsel in matters that could overturn the decisions of the three separate special counsels or affect the maintenance of public prosecution.

It is understood that the special counsel team has also requested the insurrection special counsel to provide a list of cases that were dropped in order to identify potential targets for further consultation.

Former Capital Defense Command 1st Security Group Commander Cho Seong-hyun arriving for 2nd special counsel questioning (Gwacheon=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Jin-wook = Cho Seong-hyun, former commander of the Army Capital Defense Command's 1st Security Group, is answering questions from reporters as he arrives at the 2nd comprehensive special counsel office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 15th for questioning as a suspect in a case involving carrying out a mission of importance for an insurrection. 2026.7.15 cityboy@yna.co.kr

Furthermore, the special counsel team announced that it plans to conduct additional questioning of former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong next week regarding the "Yangpyeong Expressway allegations."

Former Minister Won appeared before the special counsel team on the 23rd as a suspect on charges of abuse of power and was questioned for approximately nine hours.

The special counsel team stated that the travel ban on former Minister Won was not extended and has therefore been lifted, as he complied with the summons for his first questioning and is cooperating well regarding a second appearance.

An on-site visit and questioning are also scheduled for the 28th for former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, who has been booked on charges of conspiracy to commit murder for the purpose of insurrection in relation to the "Noh Sang-won notebook." (Yonhap News)