Supreme Prosecutors' Office: 'Lost Bundled Bill Straps of Southern District Prosecutors' Office' Involved No Higher-Ups' Orders or Intent

Investigation results submitted to the Ministry of Justice... Negligence in practical matters determined, disciplinary action for involved parties expected

'Bundled bill straps' - Investigator Kim Jeong-min answers questions (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ju-seong = At the legislative hearing on prosecutorial reform held at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on Sept. 22, Investigator Kim Jeong-min (left) answers questions from Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Hyun-hee regarding the loss of 'Geonjin Beopsa's bundled bill straps'. 2025.9.22 utzza@yna.co.kr

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office, which investigated the case of lost 'Geonjin Beopsa's bundled bill straps' at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, has determined that there were 'no orders from higher-ups or intent' involved.

According to legal circles on the 23rd, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Inspection Department recently submitted this opinion to the Ministry of Justice regarding the Southern District Prosecutors' Office investigator's loss of bundled bill straps. The opinion stated that while there was negligence in practical matters during the management of the bundled bills, there were no instructions from higher-ups to conceal evidence.

The final decision on who will be disciplined and the severity of the discipline is expected after review by the Ministry of Justice.

Earlier, in December of last year, the Southern District Prosecutors' Office seized cash bundles, including 50 million won worth of Bank of Korea bundled bills, from the residence of Geonjin Beopsa member Jeon Seong-bae, but passed the case to the special prosecutor without clarifying the source.

The Southern District Prosecutors' Office maintains that an employee lost the straps and other items during the process of counting the cash.

This was because the straps and stickers, which contained information such as the date of verification, the person in charge, and the department, were lost.

In response, Minister of Justice Jeong Sung-ho ordered high-intensity fact-finding measures, including an inspection, in July to ascertain the facts and determine responsibility. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office immediately launched an inspection and subsequently transitioned to an investigation to examine the facts.

Jeon is currently on trial, accused of receiving requests from the Unification Church in approximately April-August 2022 for diamond necklaces and Chanel bags as gifts for First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and for interceding on church matters, which he then allegedly delivered to Mrs. Kim. Yonhap News